The Prevalence and Death Risk of Male Breast Cancer: A Study Based on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Database

Abstract

This study was to investigate the prevalence and death risk of male breast cancer (MBC) patients. The prevalence trend was based on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database from 1975 to 2017. A competitive risk analysis was performed to analyze the death risk of MBC patients. Hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. The results indicated that the prevalence of MBC after the standardization of the total population increased in 1975-2017 and its annual percentage change (APC) was 0.536% (95% CI = [0.362%, 0.713%]). The prevalence of MBC was rapidly increased in patients aged ≥70 years (APC = 0.780%; 95% CI = [0.491%, 1.076%]) and Grade Ⅱ tumors (APC = 1.462%; 95% CI = [1.260%, 1.686%]). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year cumulative mortality of MBC patients who died of MBC was 2.23% (95% CI = [1.61%, 2.85%]), 7.56% (95% CI = [6.33%, 8.78%]), and 13.10% (95% CI = [11.10%, 11.32%]), respectively. Competitive risk analysis demonstrated that Blacks (HR = 1.76; 95% CI = [1.12, 2.77]), Grade 3 (HR = 2.56; 95% CI = [1.03, 6.35]), AJCC (American Joint Committee on Cancer) Stage Ⅲ (HR = 3.04; 95% CI = [1.76, 5.26]), and AJCC Stage Ⅳ (HR = 7.27; 95% CI = [1.36, 38.83]) were associated with an increased MBC-specific death risk, whereas married status (HR = 0.40; 95% CI = [0.25, 0.64]), surgery (HR = 0.25; 95% CI = [0.12, 0.50]), Luminal A subtype (HR = 0.20; 95% CI = [0.07, 0.53]), and Luminal B subtype (HR = 0.29; 95% CI = [0.10, 0.87]) were related to a reduced MBC-specific death risk. In addition, similar results can be observed in patients with surgery recommended and done (p < .05). This study may provide evidence for the prevalence trend, cumulative mortality, and death risk of MBC patients.

Keywords: competitive risk analysis; male breast cancer; prevalence trend; risk factors of death.

Figure 1

The Flowchart of Included Patients. Note. MBC = male breast cancer; SEER = Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results; AJCC = American Joint Committee on Cancer.

Figure 2

Standardized Annual Incidence of Male Breast Cancer From 1975 to 2017. (A) Total Standardized Annual Incidence of Male Breast Cancer; (B) Standardized Annual Incidence of Male Breast Cancer by Age; (C) Standardized Annual Incidence of Male Breast Cancer by Race; (D) Standardized Annual Incidence of Male Breast Cancer by Grade. Note. APC = annual percentage change.

Figure 3.

Cumulative Mortality of Male Breast Cancer Patients. (A) Total Cumulative Mortality; (B) Comparison of Cumulative Mortality Between ≤ 50 Years Group and 50 to 59 Years Group; (C) 60 to 69 Years Group; (D) ≥ 70 Years Group.