title: Retrospective review of male breast cancer patients: analysis of tamoxifen-related side-effects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Approximately 2000 American men are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. Limited data are available evaluating toxicity of antihormonal treatments in male breast cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed male breast cancer patients evaluated at our institution (1999-2009). Of 126 patients, 64 met the following inclusion criteria: stage I-III, treated with tamoxifen, at least one follow-up visit after starting tamoxifen. A descriptive analysis of toxic effects was carried out on these 64 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median follow-up from start of tamoxifen therapy was 3.9 years (range 0.3-19.4 years). Median age at diagnosis was 61 years (range 30-79 years). Breakdown by stage: 29.7% (n = 19) stage I, 54.7% (n = 35) stage II, and 15.6% (n = 10) stage III. Thirty-four (53%) patients experienced one or more toxicity while taking tamoxifen. Most common toxic effects are weight gain (14 patients, 22%) and sexual dysfunction (14 patients, 22%). Thirteen (20.3%) patients discontinued tamoxifen due to toxicity: one ocular, one leg cramps, two neurocognitive deficits, two bone pain, three sexual dysfunction, and four thromboembolic events.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To our knowledge, this is the largest study examining tamoxifen-related toxic effects among male breast cancer patients. Among male patients, there is a high rate of discontinuation of tamoxifen. Prospective studies of antihormonal agents in male breast cancer are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Leukemia, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pemmaraju
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Munsell
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Hortobagyi
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Giordano
mesh_terms: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018567:Breast Neoplasms, Male / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000139:chemically induced; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016312:Treatment Refusal; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D013629:Tamoxifen
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