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Male Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review about Epidemiology, Risk Factors, Diagnosis and Therapy in a Comparative Perspective with the Female Counterpart

  • Silvia Villani 1, *,   
  • Alice Magnarini 1,   
  • Alex Mammarella 1,   
  • Gorreja Xhoni 2,   
  • Utini Michele 2,   
  • Vallieri Alberto 2,   
  • Riccardo Giampieri 1,   
  • Alessandro Parisi 1,   
  • Rossana Berardi 1

Received: 03 May 2025 | Revised: 16 Jul 2025 | Accepted: 09 Sep 2025 | Published: 15 Oct 2025

Abstract

Male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare clinical entity, accounting for almost 1% of all cancers in men and less than 1% of breast cancer (BC). Risk factors for MBC include age, family history of breast cancer, estrogen use, and testicular abnormalities. Due to the limited prospective research specifically focused on MBC, its management generally follows the same approach as for female breast cancer (FBC). However, MBC differs from FBC in terms of clinical presentation and molecular features, including variations in hormone receptor expression. Notably, MBC is often diagnosed at a more advanced stage due to diagnostic delays, with approximately half of the patients presenting with at least one involved lymph node at the time of diagnosis. Also, MBCs are predominantly estrogen receptor (ERα) positive. Genetic alterations, such as pathogenetic variants in the BRCA1/2 genes, and epigenetic changes identify a subset of MBCs that may differ from FBCs and could potentially require a distinct therapeutic approach. Treatment typically involves surgery, adjuvant radiation, endocrine therapy and chemotherapy. Ongoing multinational collaborations and the inclusion of male patients in FBC trials are essential for conducting clinical studies on MBC, which will ultimately help clinicians optimize care for MBC patients.

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Villani, S.; Magnarini, A.; Mammarella, A.; Xhoni, G.; Michele, U.; Alberto, V.; Giampieri, R.; Parisi, A.; Berardi, R. Male Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review about Epidemiology, Risk Factors, Diagnosis and Therapy in a Comparative Perspective with the Female Counterpart. Australian Journal of Oncology 2025, 1 (1), 1.
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