Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35512428›Full record

SynthesisBreast (Edinburgh, Scotland)2022

Relevance of the 21-gene expression assay in male breast cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Matthew G Davey, Ciara M Davey, Luis Bouz, Eoin Kerin, Carson McFeetors, Aoife J Lowery, Michael J Kerin

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Breast (Edinburgh, Scotland), 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. The Oncotype DX® 21-gene recurrence score and clinical outcomes in hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative male breast cancer: a scoping review.Clinical & translational oncology : official publication of the Federation of Spanish Oncology Societies and of the National Cancer Institute of Mexico · 2026
    Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Review
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Matthew G DaveyDepartment of Surgery, The Lambe Institute for Translational Research, National University of Ireland, Galway, H91YR71, Ireland. Electronic address: m.davey7@nuigalway.ie.
Ciara M DaveyDepartment of Surgery, The Lambe Institute for Translational Research, National University of Ireland, Galway, H91YR71, Ireland.
Luis BouzDepartment of Surgery, The Lambe Institute for Translational Research, National University of Ireland, Galway, H91YR71, Ireland.
Eoin KerinDepartment of Surgery, The Lambe Institute for Translational Research, National University of Ireland, Galway, H91YR71, Ireland.
Carson McFeetorsDepartment of Surgery, The Lambe Institute for Translational Research, National University of Ireland, Galway, H91YR71, Ireland.
Aoife J LoweryDepartment of Surgery, The Lambe Institute for Translational Research, National University of Ireland, Galway, H91YR71, Ireland.
Michael J KerinDepartment of Surgery, The Lambe Institute for Translational Research, National University of Ireland, Galway, H91YR71, Ireland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionThe 21-gene assay provides prognostication for estrogen receptor positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 negative (ER+/HER2-) early female breast cancer patients. This signature has not been validated in male breast cancer (MBC).

methodsA systematic review and meta-analysis was performed in accordance to the PRISMA guidelines. Retrospective cohort studies comparing 21-gene assay scores in female and MBC were included. Dichotomous variables were pooled as odds ratios (OR) and associated 95% confidence intervals (CI) using the Mantel-Haenszel method.

resultsSix studies including 176,338 patients were included (mean age of 63.4 years, range: 33-88). Of these, 1.0% had MBC (1826/176,338) and 99.0% were female patients (174,512/176,338). MBC patients were more likely to have increased tumour stage, nodal involvement, and grade 3 disease (all P < 0.001) In MBC patients, the mean score was 18.8 (range: 11-26) vs. 13.4 (range 0-33) in female patients (P < 0.001). In MBC patients, 22.4% had scores >30 (408/1822) versus 18.3% in female patients (31,852/174,500). In female patients, 52.0% had scores <18 (90,787/174,500) versus 47.8% in MBC (471/1822). Overall, patients with female patients were as likely to have scores <18 (OR: 1.04, 95% CI: 0.94-1.16), scores 18-30 (OR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.00-1.26) and scores >30 (OR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.45-1.07) as MBC patients.

conclusionThere are similar anticipated scores for female and MBC undergoing 21-gene expression assay testing for early stage, ER+/HER2-breast cancer. In the absence of stage matching, cautious interpretation of these results is required. Validation of the 21-gene assay in MBC is still required.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsBreast Neoplasms, MaleErb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine KinasesFemaleGene Expression ProfilingHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesErb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine KinasesCancer genomicsMale breast cancerPersonalised medicinePrecision oncology

Identifiers

PMID35512428
PMCPMC9079225

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.