Molecular characteristics of Asian male BRCA-related cancers

Abstract

<h3>Purpose</h3><p>Germline mutations of <em>BRCA1</em> or <em>BRCA2</em> predispose men to develop various cancers, including breast cancers and prostate cancers. Male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare disease while prostate cancer (PRC) is uncommon in young men at the age of less than 40. The prevalence of <em>BRCA</em> genes in Asian male patients has to be elevated.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>Germline mutations screening was performed in 98 high-risk Chinese MBC and PRC patients.</p><h3>Result</h3><p>We have identified 16 pathogenic <em>BRCA2</em> mutation carriers, 12 were MBC patients, 2 were PRC patients and 2 were patients with both MBC and PRC. The mutation percentages were 18.8%, 6.7% and 50% for MBC, PRC and both MBC and PRC patients, respectively. <em>BRCA2</em> gene mutations confer a significantly higher risk of breast/prostate cancers in men than those with <em>BRCA1</em> mutations. <em>BRCA</em> mutated MBC patients had a younger age of diagnosis and strong family histories of breast cancers while <em>BRCA</em> mutated PRC patients had strong family histories of ovarian cancers.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Male <em>BRCA</em> carriers with breast cancers or prostate cancers showed distinct clinical and molecular characteristics, a male-specific genetic screening model would be useful to identify male cancer patients who have a high risk of <em>BRCA</em> mutation.</p>