[Expression of steroid receptors and DNA synthesis in male breast cancer].
Using a double-labeling immunocytochemical-autoradiographic assay we studied 18 male breast carcinomas to evaluate the cell kinetic and receptor status in neoplastic cells during S-Phase and to detect possible differences with respect to 21 female breast cancers, from a previously, published study. In male breast cancer, the tumor receptor content and ER/PgR expression in neoplastic cells during S-Phase was higher (p = 0.01) than that in corresponding female tumor while tumoral cell proliferation was lower, but not significantly. In the previous reported study on female breast cancer we demonstrated that proliferative activity was higher in receptor negative cell population both for ER and PgR. Conversely, in male tumor, that difference was only present in relation to the expression of PgR: in fact, the proliferative activity was higher in PgR negative than in PgR positive cells (Anova Test: p = 0.04) while no difference was evidenced between ER negative versus ER positive cells. Moreover, the arrest of DNA synthesis, expressed as percentage of cells without 3H-Tdr labeling, was not related to either the ER or PgR expression, while in female breast cancer it was higher in PgR positive than ER positive cell population. Our data confirmed differences between males and females regarding the receptor status and cell cycle S-Phase in breast cancer. The poorer prognosis of the male breast carcinoma might be related to ineffective therapies which do not consider these differences in the biological profile of the male tumor. The Authors indicate that prognostic and predictive tissutal markers, detected by immunocytochemical methods and useful for therapeutic programming in the female breast cancer have a different significance in the male breast cancer and stress the need for different therapeutic strategies specific for male breast cancer.
I.R.C.C.S., Ospedale Oncologico, via Amendola 209, 70126 Bari, Italia. s-petroni@libero.it
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Mangia
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D'Amico
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D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001345:Autoradiography; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D018567:Breast Neoplasms, Male / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D002455:Cell Division; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D009376:Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis*; D016196:S Phase
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone