title: Gene copy number variation in male breast cancer by aCGH.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare disease and little is known about its etiopathogenesis. Array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) provides a method to quantitatively measure the changes of DNA copy number and to map them directly onto the complete linear genome sequences. The aim of this study was to investigate DNA imbalances by aCGH and compare them with a female breast cancer dataset.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used Agilent Human Genome CGH Microarray Kit 44B and 44 K to compare genomic alterations in 25 male breast cancer tissues studied at NCC of Bari and 16 female breast cancer deposited with the Gene Expression Omnibus (GSE 12659). Data analysis was performed with Nexus Copy Number 5.0 software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the 25 male and 16 female breast cancer samples displayed some chromosomal instability (110,93 alterations per patient in female, 69 in male). However, male samples presented a lower frequency of genetic alterations both in terms of loss and gains.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  aCGH is an effective tool for analysis of cytogenetic aberrations in MBC, which involves different biological processes than female. Male most significant altered regions contained genes involved in cell communication, cell division and immunological response, while female cell-cell junction maintenance, regulation of transcription and neuron development.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Experimental Oncology Laboratory, National Cancer Centre of Bari, viale Orazio Flacco 65, 70124 Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tommasi
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mangia
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iannelli
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chiarappa
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ottini
authors.forename: Marcella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mottolese
authors.forename: Wainer
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zoli
authors.forename: Orsetta
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Zuffardi
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paradiso