Case report identifies metachronous cancers in a BRCA2 mutation carrier, suggesting enhanced surveillance. Genetic testing reveals implications for treatment and multidisciplinary care.
Male breast cancer (MBC) is rare and typically diagnosed at later stages, often in older men. Pathogenic BRCA2 mutations are implicated in a significant proportion of MBC cases and may confer increased risk for other cancers. A 66-year-old male presented with right upper limb edema and back soreness. Imaging and biopsy confirmed stage IV invasive ductal carcinoma, Luminal B HER2-negative. Genetic testing revealed a germline BRCA2 mutation. During routine imaging, a second primary colon cancer was discovered and resected. MBC represents less than 1% of all male cancers and is frequently associated with delayed diagnosis. BRCA2 mutations significantly increase the risk for male breast and gastrointestinal cancers. This patient underwent endocrine and CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy and followed by surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy for the colon carcinoma. Disease remained stable on follow-up. This case highlights the importance of genetic testing, vigilance for second primary malignancies in BRCA2 carriers, and the value of multidisciplinary care for MBC patients. The co-occurrence of these malignancies in a male BRCA2 carrier is rare and underscores the need for broader surveillance in such patients.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Larionesi et al. (2025) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: