Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P04626 (erbB-2)
 5,251 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Biologic properties of breast cancer in men that might reflect alterations in pathogenesis from the disease in women were examined. We studied 22 tumors from males, 18 invasive carcinomas, three of which were papillary, and three in situ tumors of which one was papillary, and one papilloma. Our data support the previously reported high incidence of papillary carcinoma in men. Estrogen receptor status and the expression of cancer-associated antigens recognized by antibodies DF3, B73.2, SP-1, and c-erbB-2 were compared to matched tumors from females. Immunocytochemistry was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections using standard avidin-biotin techniques; anti-PSA was used to exclude the possibility of metatastic prostate cancer, and 12 cases of gynecomastia were included as nonmalignant controls. The incidence of estrogen receptor positivity was higher in tumors from males (73%) than from females (54%), as has been reported previously. The range of expression of all breast cancer antigens tested in male tumors was similar to that observed in females, but some interesting differences were noted. With the exception of the anti-mucin DF3, all the antibodies reacted only with neoplastic tissues. Expression of the oncoprotein c-erbB-2 was lower (17%) in males than in females (33%), despite the preponderance in men of the large-cell type carcinomas that have been associated with c-erbB-2 expression. Unexpectedly, the pregnancy-associated hormone detected by SP-1 was expressed in 33% of tumors from males and, in contrast to females, was found in less differentiated tumors.
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PMID:Immunocytochemical characterization of male breast cancer. 136 97

As male breast cancer remains rare entity (less than 1% of cases of breast cancer), most of our current knowledge of it has been extrapolated from its female counterpart. The prevalence of male breast cancer increases with age, and the presentation occurs at an average age of approximately 60 years, 10 years older than in females with the disease. The majority of patients present with a painless, firm, subareolar mass, and the tumors are usually larger than 2 cm in diameter. There may be fixation to skin. Mammography and ultrasonography are useful to distinguish between breast cancer and gynecomastia. Pathologically, invasive ductal carcinoma is the predominant subtype, and lobular carcinoma is rare. Modified radical mastectomy is a principal surgical approach, and adjuvant therapy has been advocated in men based on the beneficial results of it in women. Hormonal manipulations constitute an essential part of adjuvant therapy, as male breast cancers have a high rate of hormone-receptor positivity. Although orchiectomy was practiced in the past, today, tamoxifen is the standard hormone therapy. With respect to systemic chemotherapy, the most common regimens are CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil), or other anthracyclin-based regimens. In cases of disease recurrence, hormonal manipulations, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy can be administered for palliative purposes. Several selective aromatase inhibitors are now available; however, there are limited data regarding their efficacy in men. The prognosis does not seem to be poor compared to that of females when age and stage are matched. Further studies are needed to characterize the biologic and molecular properties of male breast cancer and their prognostic significance, and to devise optimal treatment strategies. However, it is interesting to note that p53 and c-erbB-2, are expressed and angiogenesis occurs in male breast cancer. Moreover, male breast cancer patients can carry BRCA2 mutations.
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PMID:[Male breast cancer]. 1279 89