Male breast neoplasia in association with selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor therapy: a report of three cases.
Male breast cancer is a rare condition with very poorly understood risk factors. We report three cases of men with malignant and pre-malignant breast disease who had all been prescribed selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for depression. Concerns about an association between this group of drugs and breast cancer in women have been previously raised and experimental evidence has suggested that these drugs could influence regulation of cellular proliferation acting through internal cellular messengers. Risk factors for the development of breast cancer are likely to be multifactorial, possibly more so in women given the complex physiological changes that occur in the female breast. Whilst the cases we report are anecdotal and other risk factors may be present, we suggest that assessment of any possible contribution that SSRI therapy may make to the development of breast neoplasia may be more easily assessed in a male population.
Wallace
W A
WA
Department of Histopathology, Northern General Hospital, Herries Road, Sheffield S5 7AU, UK. william.wallace@northngh-tr.trent.nhs.uk
Balsitis
M
M
Harrison
B J
BJ
D000368:Aged; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018567:Breast Neoplasms, Male / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*
D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D005473:Fluoxetine; D017374:Paroxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors