Expression of c-erbB-2, p53 and c-myc proteins in male breast carcinoma. Comparison with traditional prognostic factors and survival

There are few data evaluating biological markers for men with breast cancer . The purpose of the present study was to analyze the expression of the onc ogenes c-erbB-2 and c-myc and of the suppressor gene p53 by immunohistochem ical techniques in archival paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of 48 male brea st cancer patients, treated at the A.C. Camargo Cancer Hospital, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil. The results were compared with clinicopathological prognostic features. Immunopositivity of c-erbB-2, p53 and c-myc was detected in 62.5, 16.7 and 20.8% of the cases analyzed, respectively. Estrogen and progester one receptors were positive in 75 and 69% of the cases, respectively. Incre asing staging was statistically associated with c-erbB-2 (P = 0.04) and wea kly related to p53 positivity (P = 0.06). No significant correlation betwee n specific survival rate (determined by the log rank test) and the molecula r markers analyzed was found, whereas the number of compromised lymph nodes and advanced TNM (tumor, node, metastasis) staging were associated with di minished survival.