Analysis of the Clinical Advancements for BRCA-Related Malignancies Highlights the Lack of Treatment Evidence for BRCA-Positive Male Breast Cancer

Cancers (Basel). 2022 Jun 28;14(13):3175. doi: 10.3390/cancers14133175.

Abstract

Male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare disease that accounts for less than 1% of all breast cancers and male malignancies. Despite recognised clinico-pathological and molecular differences to female breast cancer (FBC), the clinical management of MBC follows established FBC treatment strategies. Loss of function mutations in the DNA damage response genes BRCA1 and BRCA2, have been strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of MBC. While there have been extensive clinical advancements in other BRCA-related malignancies, including FBC, improvements in MBC remain stagnant. Here we present a review that highlights the lack of treatment evidence for BRCA-related MBC and the required national and global collaborative effort to address this unmet need. In doing so, we summarise the transformative clinical advancements with poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors in other BRCA-related cancers namely, FBC and prostate cancer.

Keywords: BRCA; PARP inhibitors; clinical management; male breast cancer.

Publication types

  • Review

Grants and funding

This research was funded by The University of Aberdeen Development Trust, Breast Cancer UK and NHS Grampian Breast Cancer Endowment Fund. S.C. is in receipt of an Elphinstone Scholarship.