Male Breast Cancer: Understanding the Biology for Improved Patient Care
This research aims to understand breast cancer in men more deeply. It involves collecting health information and tissue samples from men who have (or had) breast cancer. By looking at these details, doctors hope to learn more about how the disease behaves and identify ways to improve care. The study has two main parts: one looking back at past medical records and samples from 1990-2010, and another creating a new registry for men diagnosed from 2014 onwards. This will help scientists understand current treatments and how the disease progresses over time, leading to better support for male breast cancer patients in the future.
At a glance
What is this study about?
Breast cancer is much less common in men than in women, which means there's less information available about it. This study is designed to help change that. Researchers want to gather a lot of information and samples from men with breast cancer from different places around the world. The main goal is to learn more about male breast cancer itself, including how it develops, what treatments work best, and what impacts a man’s health over time. Understanding these things can help doctors give better care and advice to men with breast cancer.
The study is divided into two main parts. One part looked back at medical records and tissue samples from men who had breast cancer between 1990 and 2010. This helped researchers see patterns and learn from past experiences. The second part, which began in 2014, is creating a new collection of information from men who are currently diagnosed with breast cancer. This 'registry' helps track how the disease and its treatments affect men over a period of time.
By combining all this information, including details about their health, treatments, and looking closely at the cancer cells themselves, scientists hope to find new ways to predict how the cancer might behave and identify better treatment options. This research is really important because it focuses on a group of patients who don't always get as much attention in cancer studies.
Key takeaways
- Aims to understand male breast cancer better.
- Combines past and current patient information.
- No new treatments or medicines are involved.
- Information from participants helps improve future care.
- Focuses on a rare type of cancer.
- Includes health details and tissue samples.
Who may be eligible?
This study is for men who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. It includes men who had breast cancer sometime between 1990 and 2010 (this part of the study is now closed to new participants, but their past information is still used). It also includes men who were newly diagnosed with breast cancer from early 2014 onwards.
Could this study suit you?
Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.
- Are you male?
- Were you 18 or older when diagnosed?
- Did you have breast cancer confirmed by a doctor?
- Did you have a tissue sample available from your diagnosis/surgery?
What does participation involve?
If you were asked to take part in this study (for the part that started in 2014), it would involve giving your written permission first. The study mainly involves collecting existing health information about your breast cancer, including details of your diagnosis, treatments, and how you are doing over time. You might also be asked if the study can use leftover tissue samples from your surgery or biopsy, and potentially blood samples. The study tracked participants for about 30 months (2 and a half years) from when it started in 2014, but it mainly uses information already gathered as part of your normal medical care.
Potential risks and benefits
Locations (93)
- University Of Alabama Comprehensive Cancer CenterVerified postcodeBirmingham, United States
- University Of Alabama Comprehensive Cancer CenteVerified postcodeBirmingham, United States
- UCSF University of California San Francisco Medical Center-Mount ZionVerified postcodeSan Francisco, United States
- Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer CenterVerified postcodeWashington D.C., United States
- University of Chicago MedicineVerified postcodeChicago, United States
- Indiana University Medical CenterVerified postcodeIndianapolis, United States
- Johns Hopkins University CRB1Verified postcodeBaltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins UniversityVerified postcodeBaltimore, United States
- Dana-Farber Cancer InstituteVerified postcodeBoston, United States
- University of MichiganVerified postcodeAnn Arbor, United States
- Mayo ClinicVerified postcodeRochester, United States
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center - Memorial hospitalVerified postcodeNew York, United States
Common questions
What is the study trying to find out?
It's trying to learn more about male breast cancer, how it acts, and what treatments work best by looking at information from many patients.
Do I need to take new medication?
No, this study doesn't involve taking any new medications or changing your treatment.
Is the study still open for new patients?
The part gathering new patient information started in 2014 and collected data for about two and a half years. The part looking back at old records is also complete for new entries.
Will my personal details be kept private?
Yes, all your personal and medical information will be kept confidential and used securely for research purposes only.
Why is this research important?
Male breast cancer is rare, so this study helps fill in gaps in our knowledge, which can lead to better diagnosis and treatment for men.
How to find out more
Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.
Discussion
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