Breast cancer in men. Clinical features, hormone receptor status, and response to therapy.

Stage, estrogen receptor status, treatment and survival of 29 men with breast cancer attending the Breast Clinic of the Johannesburg Hospital between 1976 and 1985 are reviewed. Most patients had locoregionally advanced disease at presentation. Estrogen receptors (ER) were detected in significant concentration in 15/23 (65%). Local control was achieved in the majority, 19/26 (73%), by either surgery or radiation therapy alone or by combined modality treatment. Fifteen of 23 patients tested (65%) were ER-positive (greater than 10 fmol/mg protein). For patients with metastatic disease hormone receptor status was predictive of response to hormonal manipulation. Tamoxifen was the most acceptable and frequently used form of hormone therapy with 7/12 patients responding. Combination chemotherapy gave a response rate comparable to that seen in women with breast cancer.