Exploring neoadjuvant chemotherapy in a rare case of male breast cancer-a TEC-regimen (docetaxel, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide) treatment: a case report and literature review.

Background: Male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare malignancy, accounting for less than 1% of all breast cancers, and evidence to guide its management remains limited. Consequently, most treatment strategies for MBC are largely extrapolated from data on female breast cancer. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) has been widely adopted in locally advanced breast cancer to reduce tumor burden, improve resectability, and facilitate multidisciplinary treatment planning; however, its role in MBC has been insufficiently documented. We report a rare case of locally advanced MBC treated with NAC using the TEC regimen, consisting of docetaxel, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide. Case Description: A 54-year-old man was diagnosed with right-sided MBC, clinical stage cT4N1M0, of the Luminal B1 subtype. Given the locally advanced stage of the disease, he received six cycles of TEC as NAC, resulting in tumor shrinkage and clinical downstaging. This response created more favorable conditions for subsequent surgical intervention. Postoperative pathological examination revealed residual invasive carcinoma with a Miller-Payne response grade of 2. The patient then underwent radical surgery with latissimus dorsi flap reconstruction, followed by adjuvant radiotherapy and endocrine therapy with tamoxifen as part of comprehensive treatment. Conclusions: NAC may be a feasible and effective option for selected patients with locally advanced MBC, contributing to tumor downstaging and improved surgical management. Further studies are warranted to refine treatment strategies and clarify the long-term benefits of this approach.