title: X chromosome gain in male breast cancer.
abstract: Male breast cancer (MBC) is an uncommon disease whose molecular profile is not well known. X chromosome gain has been described as a marker of aggressive behavior in female breast cancer. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of the X chromosome in male breast cancer. Twenty cases of male breast invasive ductal carcinoma were retrieved and compared with 10 cases of gynecomastia. Cases were tested by fluorescence in situ hybridization to assess a cytogenetic profile for the X chromosome. The X chromosome status was compared with histopathologic features and stage at presentation. All MBC cases harbored an X chromosome gain (100%) in a variable percentage of neoplastic cells, ranging from 31% to 85% (mean, 59%). On the contrary, all cases of gynecomastia showed wild X chromosome asset. The patients' age at surgery and tumor grading showed a statistically significant correlation (P = .0188-.04), with the percentages of neoplastic cells showing an X chromosome gain. These data suggest that this X chromosome gain plays a role in the neoplastic transformation of male breast epithelial cells.
authors.affiliation: Anatomic Pathology, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40139, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Di Oto
authors.affiliation: Anatomic Pathology, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40139, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Monti
authors.affiliation: Breast Surgery Unit, Bellaria Hospital, 40139, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Cucchi
authors.affiliation: Breast Surgery Unit, Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, 30151, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Masetti
authors.affiliation: Institute of Surgical Pathology University Hospital Zurich, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Zsuzsanna
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Varga
authors.affiliation: Anatomic Pathology, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40139, Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: mariapia.foschini@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Maria P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Foschini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018567:Breast Neoplasms, Male / Q000235:genetics*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000235:genetics*; D041321:Chromosomes, Human, X / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
keywords: FISH; Genetic marker; Invasive ductal carcinoma; Male breast cancer; X chromosome