Clinicopathological characteristics, immunohistochemistry-based surrogate subtypes and survival in male breast cancer

Mehmet Fatih Özbay; Mehmet Hünür; Sertaç Vurğun; Ayşe Tan Doğruel; Gülhan Özçelik Köker; Sema Sezgin Göksu; Mustafa Karaca

Clinicopathological characteristics, immunohistochemistry-based surrogate subtypes and survival in male breast cancer

Abstract

Aims: Male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare disease, and treatment approaches are largely extrapolated from female breast cancer. This study aims to evaluate clinicopathological features, immunohistochemistry-based surrogate subtypes, treatment approaches, and survival outcomes in MBC patients from Turkiye, where data on this rare disease remain limited. Methods: Forty-seven MBC patients diagnosed between 2005-2024 were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic characteristics, tumor features, immunohistochemistry-based surrogate subtypes, treatment modalities, and survival data were evaluated. Survival analyses were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method, and group comparisons were conducted using the log-rank test. Exploratory associations with overall survival (OS) were evaluated using univariate Cox regression analysis. Analyses used available cases without imputation. Surrogate subtypes were derived from ER, PR, HER2 and Ki-67; HR-positive/HER2negative tumours without Ki-67 were not assigned to luminal A-like or luminal B-like/HER2-negative categories. Results: The median age was 58.4 years (range 31–90), and the median follow-up was 54.9 months (range 2.8–197.3). Stage II was the most common presentation (59.5%), and stage III–IV disease was present in 28.6%. ER/PR/HER2 data were available for 44 patients. Complete five-category immunohistochemistry-based surrogate subtype classification was possible in 35 patients: luminal A-like 31.4% (11/35), luminal B-like/HER2-negative 42.9% (15/35), luminal B-like/HER2-positive 17.1% (6/35), HER2 positive/non-luminal 5.7% (2/35), and triple-negative 2.9% (1/35). Nine additional HR-positive/HER2-negative tumours could not be divided into the two HER2-negative luminal categories because Ki-67 was unavailable. ER positivity was 93.2%, PR positivity 86.4%, and HER2 positivity 18.2%. OS was evaluable in 46 patients; the median OS was 194.3 months and the median disease-free survival was 155.8 months. In exploratory univariate Cox analysis, older age (per 10-year increase: HR 1.76, 95% CI 1.03–2.98, p=0.037), grade 3 histology (HR 3.35, 95% CI 1.17–9.59, p=0.024) and a high Ki-67 index (≥20% vs <20%: HR 4.75, 95% CI 1.33–16.93, p=0.016) were associated with worse OS. Conclusion: Luminal biology is markedly predominant in MBC, and survival outcomes are in line with the literature. In exploratory univariate analysis, age, tumour grade and the Ki-67 index were associated with OS. These findings support hormone receptor-directed treatment in MBC and point to the need for prospective studies in men. Because multivariable adjustment was not possible, these associations are exploratory and hypothesis-generating rather than independent prognostic effects.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

None. This study received no institutional or financial support.

Project Number

Not applicable.

Ethical Statement

Ethics Committee Approval: This study was approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine (Decision No: TBAEK-21, Date: 29.01.2026). The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Informed Consent: Because the study was designed retrospectively, no written informed consent form was obtained from patients. Conflict of Interest Statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest. Financial Disclosure: The authors declared that this study received no financial support.

Thanks

Not applicable.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Clinical Oncology

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Mehmet Fatih Özbay ^*
0000-0002-3883-4364
Türkiye

Mehmet Hünür
0000-0003-4206-2982
Türkiye

Sertaç Vurğun
0000-0001-5326-0824
Türkiye

Ayşe Tan Doğruel
0000-0003-3275-3798
Türkiye

Gülhan Özçelik Köker
0000-0002-0205-2926
Türkiye

Sema Sezgin Göksu
0000-0002-1222-0444
Türkiye

Mustafa Karaca
0000-0002-3954-5273
Türkiye

Publication Date

August 15, 2026

Submission Date

June 19, 2026

Acceptance Date

August 12, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 7 Number: 4

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA59HD97HG

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Özbay, M. F., Hünür, M., Vurğun, S., Tan Doğruel, A., Özçelik Köker, G., Göksu, S. S., & Karaca, M. (2026). Clinicopathological characteristics, immunohistochemistry-based surrogate subtypes and survival in male breast cancer. Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care, 7(4), 883-889. https://izlik.org/JA59HD97HG

AMA

1.Özbay MF, Hünür M, Vurğun S, et al. Clinicopathological characteristics, immunohistochemistry-based surrogate subtypes and survival in male breast cancer. J Med Palliat Care / JOMPAC / jompac. 2026;7(4):883-889. https://izlik.org/JA59HD97HG

Chicago

Özbay, Mehmet Fatih, Mehmet Hünür, Sertaç Vurğun, et al. 2026. “Clinicopathological Characteristics, Immunohistochemistry-Based Surrogate Subtypes and Survival in Male Breast Cancer”. Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care 7 (4): 883-89. https://izlik.org/JA59HD97HG.

EndNote

Özbay MF, Hünür M, Vurğun S, Tan Doğruel A, Özçelik Köker G, Göksu SS, Karaca M (August 1, 2026) Clinicopathological characteristics, immunohistochemistry-based surrogate subtypes and survival in male breast cancer. Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care 7 4 883–889.

IEEE

[1]M. F. Özbay et al., “Clinicopathological characteristics, immunohistochemistry-based surrogate subtypes and survival in male breast cancer”, J Med Palliat Care / JOMPAC / jompac, vol. 7, no. 4, pp. 883–889, Aug. 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA59HD97HG

ISNAD

Özbay, Mehmet Fatih - Hünür, Mehmet - Vurğun, Sertaç - Tan Doğruel, Ayşe - Özçelik Köker, Gülhan - Göksu, Sema Sezgin - Karaca, Mustafa. “Clinicopathological Characteristics, Immunohistochemistry-Based Surrogate Subtypes and Survival in Male Breast Cancer”. Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care 7/4 (August 1, 2026): 883-889. https://izlik.org/JA59HD97HG.

JAMA

1.Özbay MF, Hünür M, Vurğun S, Tan Doğruel A, Özçelik Köker G, Göksu SS, Karaca M. Clinicopathological characteristics, immunohistochemistry-based surrogate subtypes and survival in male breast cancer. J Med Palliat Care / JOMPAC / jompac. 2026;7:883–889.

MLA

Özbay, Mehmet Fatih, et al. “Clinicopathological Characteristics, Immunohistochemistry-Based Surrogate Subtypes and Survival in Male Breast Cancer”. Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care, vol. 7, no. 4, Aug. 2026, pp. 883-9, https://izlik.org/JA59HD97HG.

Vancouver

1.Mehmet Fatih Özbay, Mehmet Hünür, Sertaç Vurğun, Ayşe Tan Doğruel, Gülhan Özçelik Köker, Sema Sezgin Göksu, Mustafa Karaca. Clinicopathological characteristics, immunohistochemistry-based surrogate subtypes and survival in male breast cancer. J Med Palliat Care / JOMPAC / jompac [Internet]. 2026 Aug. 1;7(4):883-9. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA59HD97HG