Scientists Detail Male And Female Breast Cancer Difference: Here's What We Know

According to a recent review conducted by scientists at Aberdeen University and NHS Grampian of all scientific studies on male breast cancer conducted over the previous 20 years, there are significant disparities between the male and female conditions, which might have significant effects on both therapy and screening.

The review of all the published studies published between 1992 and 2021 reveals significant variations between male and female breast cancer, yet present methods for diagnosing and treating male breast cancer are primarily based on those used for female patients.

Male And Female Breast Cancer Difference

In order to discover the knowledge gaps in male breast cancer, the University of Aberdeen's Chair in Molecular Oncology, Professor Valerie Speirs, together with colleagues from the University and NHS Grampian, investigated scientific articles published in the past twenty-nine years.

The way sex hormones affect male breast cancer was one significant distinction the research found. Although both men and women have male and female hormones in their systems, men with breast cancer have different responses from women to specific hormones. Surprisingly, male breast cancer patients' tumours were discovered to have greater oestrogen receptor levels than female breast cancer patients' tumours.

The presence of certain proteins, known as biomarkers, which were more prevalent in male breast cancer, revealed other distinctions. This implies that with additional research, they may be looked at more closely to attempt and create treatments that could target them.

There were also differences between the molecular subtypes of male and female breast cancer. The optimal course of action and results for patients may depend on these various forms of breast cancer. Although molecular subgroups in female breast cancer have long been recognised, nothing is known about them in males, according to the research.

The review emphasised the need to take ethnicity into account. According to reports, African males have a 2- to 2.5-fold greater prevalence of male breast cancer. No molecular research has looked at this as of yet.

As per Professor Speirs, the male breast has been understudied for decades now because of a number of reasons. Another factor why breast cancer in males comes across as rare or understudied is because men visit their GP much later. Not many know that the symptoms for men can be much worse than for women. However, with an increase in awareness around the globe, there has certainly been a shift in understanding resulting in progress over the last decade with respect to detection and treatment.

Suggested reading: Number Of Male Breast Cancer Cases Increases: Here’s What You Should Know