title: Clinical profile, BRCA2 expression, and the androgen receptor CAG repeat region in Egyptian and Moroccan male breast cancer patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare disease. Rates of MBC in Northern Africa vary by region. The age-standardized incidence for MBC is higher in Morocco than in Egypt, and the Egyptian rate is similar to the U.S of approximately 1/10(5)This study aimed at investigating the clinical and molecular characteristics of MBC in Egypt and Morocco.
  
  
  METHODS
  This case-case study included 211 cases from Egypt and 132 from Morocco. Tumor tissues were available for 47 Egyptian and 18 Moroccan patients. Medical record information was abstracted for patients' demographics, medical history, and treatment. BRCA2 protein expression status was examined in Egyptian and Moroccan tumors. Androgen receptor CAG repeat length was analyzed using the tissue samples in Egyptian MBC tumors and controls. Limited amount of tissues from Morocco did not allow for the analysis of CAG repeats.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Egyptian MBC patients had a significantly lower age at diagnosis (Egypt: 57.5 ± 15.1, Morocco: 63.9 ± 14.4, P=0.0002) and a higher prevalence of liver cirrhosis (Egypt: 28.0%, Morocco: 0.8%, P=< 0.0001). MBC patients also had higher tumor grades [I (0.9%), II (81.0%), III (18.1%)] in Egypt vs. [I (10.7%), II (81.0%), III (8.3%)] in Morocco (P=0.0017). The clinical and molecular characteristics of the groups from the 2 countries did not significantly differ. There was no significant difference with respect to BRCA2 expression amongst countries (Egypt: 28.9% non-wild type, Morocco: 27.8% non-wild type, P=0.9297) or CAG lengths amongst BRCA2 expression types in Egyptians (Wild type: 54.6% with CAG repeat lengths of 20+, Non-wild type: 50% with CAG repeat lengths of 20+, P=0.7947).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Differences in MBC between Egypt and Morocco are more likely due to differences in other risk factors such as consanguinity and use of xenoestrogenic pesticides.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, USA.
authors.forename: Samuel F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.forename: Amr S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Soliman
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karkouri
authors.forename: Meaghen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quinlan-Davidson
authors.forename: Ashley
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Strahley
authors.forename: Mohab
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eissa
authors.forename: Subhojit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dey
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hablas
authors.forename: Ibrahim A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Seifeldin
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramadan
authors.forename: Noureddine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Benjaafar
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Toy
authors.forename: Sofia D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Merajver
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D024682:BRCA2 Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D018567:Breast Neoplasms, Male / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009018:Morocco / Q000453:epidemiology; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000235:genetics*; D018911:Trinucleotide Repeats / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C410798:AR protein, human; D024682:BRCA2 Protein; D011944:Receptors, Androgen