Angiogenesis, p53, and c-erbB-2 immunoreactivity and clinicopathological features in male breast cancer

Background and Objectives: p53, c-erbB-2, and tumor microvascular density h ave been shown to be potential prognostic tools in female breast cancer. Ou r objective was to assess the significance of these biomarkers as prognosti c factors in infiltrating male breast cancer. Methods: A retrospective study of expression of p53, c-erbB-2, and tumor mi crovascular density was done on a group of 26 male breast cancer patients. Biotin-streptavidin immunohistochemical study with specific anti-p53, anti- c-erbB-2, and anti-CD34 antibodies was carried out on paraffin sections of breast carcinoma. The data of expression of the biomarkers were merged with clinicopathological data such as tumor grade, T class, TNM stage, estrogen receptor status, tumor recurrence, and patient survival. Results: p53 and c-erbB-2 were expressed in 46% and 39% of carcinomas, resp ectively. No correlation was found between positive immunoreactivity of p53 , and tumor grade, size, T class, TNM stage, and survival. Nor was any rela tion found between tumor size, T class, TNM stage, survival, and c-erbB-2 o verexpression. c-erbB-2 overexpression was significantly higher in high gra de carcinomas. Estrogen receptor (ER) were positive in 21 out of 26 of tumo rs (81%). No trends were observed between estrogen receptor status and clin icopathological parameters or survival (data not shown). There was a positi ve correlation between mean microvascular density (MVD), advanced T class, and survival: higher MVD counts were found in patients with advanced tumors and in those who had tumor relapses or died of metastatic disease. Conclusions: This study suggests that tumor microvascular density may serve as a potential prognostic tool in male breast carcinoma. (C) 2000 Wiley-Li ss, Inc.