Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Clinical relevance of biologic factors in male breast cancer

  • Published:
Breast Cancer Research and Treatment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

There is ample information on the clinical role of biologic factors in female breast cancer: urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), its receptor uPAR, its inhibitors PAI-1 and PAI-2, cathepsin D and pS2-protein. However such reports are missing or very rare for male breast cancer. We determined the cytosolic levels of oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), cathepsin D, pS2-protein, uPA, uPAR, PAI-1 and PAI-2 of the primary tumour tissues from 40 male breast cancer patients. The tumour levels were compared with those of 180 matched females and 4114 historic females with breast cancer. In male breast tumours the level of PgR was higher, those of uPA, PAI-1, PAI-2 and cathepsin D lower. The tumour level of ER in men was similar to those in the matched and postmenopausal women, but much higher than those in the historic women. Male breast cancer seems to be biologically different from female breast cancer. Correlation of the eight cell biologic factors with disease outcome showed that PAI-1 (p=0.03) was the only independent predictive factor for poor prognosis in male breast cancer.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. van Geel AN, van Slooten EA, Mavrunac M, Hart AA: A retrospective study of male breast cancer in Holland. Br J Surg 72: 724-727, 1985

    Google Scholar 

  2. Ewertz M, Holmberg L, Karjalainen S, Tretli S, Adami HO: Incidence of male breast cancer in Scandinavia, 1943-1982. Int J Cancer 43: 27-31, 1989

    Google Scholar 

  3. La Vecchia C, Levi F, Lucchini F: Descriptive epidemiology of male breast cancer in Europe. Int J Cancer 51: 62-66, 1992

    Google Scholar 

  4. Donegan WL, Redlich PN: Breast cancer in men. Surg Clin North Am 76: 343-363, 1996

    Google Scholar 

  5. Borgen PI, Wong GY, Vlamis V, Potter C, Hoffmann B, Kinne DW, Osborne MP, McKinnon WM: Current management of male breast cancer. A review of 104 cases. Ann Surg 215: 451-457; discussion 457-459, 1992

    Google Scholar 

  6. McLachlan SA, Erlichman C, Liu FF, Miller N, Pintilie M: Male breast cancer: an 11 year review of 66 patients. Breast Cancer Res Treat 40: 225-230, 1996

    Google Scholar 

  7. Donegan WL, Redlich PN, Lang PJ, Gall MT: Carcinoma of the breast in males: a multiinstitutional survey. Cancer 83: 498-509, 1998

    Google Scholar 

  8. Ciatto S, Iossa A, Bonardi R, Pacini P: Male breast carcinoma: review of a multicenter series of 150 cases. Coordinating Center andWriting Committee of FONCAM(National Task Force for Breast Cancer), Italy. Tumori 76: 555-558, 1990

    Google Scholar 

  9. Joshi MG, Lee AK, Loda M, Camus MG, Pedersen C, Heatley GJ, Hughes KS: Male breast carcinoma: an evaluation of prognostic factors contributing to a poorer outcome. Cancer 77: 490-498, 1996

    Google Scholar 

  10. Adami HO, Hakulinen T, Ewertz M, Tretli S, Holmberg L, Karjalainen S: The survival pattern in male breast cancer. An analysis of 1429 patients from the Nordic countries. Cancer 64: 1177-1182, 1989

    Google Scholar 

  11. Stierer M, Rosen H, Weitensfelder W, Hausmaninger H, Teleky B, Jakesz R, Fruhwirth H, Dunser M, Beller S, Haid A, Tüchler H: Male breast cancer: Austrian experience. World J Surg 19: 687-692; discussion 692-693, 1995

    Google Scholar 

  12. Weber-Chappuis K, Bieri-Burger S, Hurlimann J: Comparison of prognostic markers detected by immunohistochemistry in male and female breast carcinomas. Eur J Cancer 32A: 1686-1692, 1996

    Google Scholar 

  13. Borgen PI, Senie RT, McKinnon WM, Rosen PP: Carcinoma of the male breast: analysis of prognosis compared with matched female patients. Ann Surg Oncol 4: 385-388, 1997

    Google Scholar 

  14. Willsher PC, Leach IH, Ellis IO, Bourke JB, Blamey RW, Robertson JF: A comparison outcome of male breast cancer with female breast cancer. Am J Surg 173: 185-188, 1997

    Google Scholar 

  15. Salvadori B, Saccozzi R, Manzari A, Andreola S, Conti RA, Cusumano F, Grassi M: Prognosis of breast cancer in males: an analysis of 170 cases. Eur J Cancer 7: 930-935, 1994

    Google Scholar 

  16. Heller KS, Rosen PP, Schottenfeld D, Ashikari R, Kinne DW: Male breast cancer: a clinicopathologic study of 97 cases. Ann Surg 188: 60-65, 1978

    Google Scholar 

  17. Andreasen PA, Kjoller L, Christensen L, Duffy MJ: The urokinase-type plasminogen activator system in cancer metastasis: a review. Int J Cancer 72: 1-22, 1997

    Google Scholar 

  18. May FE, Westley BR: Trefoil proteins: their role in normal and malignant cells. J Pathol 183: 4-7, 1997

    Google Scholar 

  19. Look MP, Foekens JA: Clinical relevance of the urokinase plasminogen activator system in breast cancer. APMIS 107: 150-159, 1999

    Google Scholar 

  20. Westley BR, May FE: Prognostic value of cathepsin D in breast cancer. Br J Cancer 79: 189-190, 1999

    Google Scholar 

  21. Foekens JA, Look MP, Peters HA, van Putten WLJ, Portengen H, Klijn JGM: Urokinase-type plasminogen activator and its inhibitor PAI-1: predictors of poor response to tamoxifen therapy in recurrent breast cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 87: 751-756, 1995

    Google Scholar 

  22. Klijn JG, Berns EM, Foekens JA: Prognostic and predictive factors in breast cancer. In: Manni A (ed) Contemporary Endocrinology: Endocrinology of Breast Cancer. Vol 14, Humana Press, Totowa, NJ, 1998, pp 205-220

    Google Scholar 

  23. Kardas I, Seitz G, Limon J, Niezabitowski A, Rys J, Theisinger B, Welter C, Blin N: Retrospective analysis of prognostic significance of the estrogen-inducible pS2 gene in male breast carcinoma. Cancer 72: 1652-1656, 1993

    Google Scholar 

  24. Rogers S, Day CA, Fox SB: Expression of cathepsin D and estrogen receptor in male breast carcinoma. Hum Pathol 24: 148-151, 1993

    Google Scholar 

  25. Bruce DM, Heys SD, Payne S, Miller ID, Eremin O: Male breast cancer: clinico-pathological features, immunocytochemical characteristics and prognosis. Eur J Surg Oncol 22: 42-46, 1996

    Google Scholar 

  26. Early Breast Cancer Trialists’ Collaborative Group: Effects of radiotherapy and surgery in early breast cancer. An overview of the randomized trials. N Engl J Med 333: 1444-1455, 1995

    Google Scholar 

  27. Foekens JA, Portengen H, van Putten WLJ, Peters HA, Krijnen HLLM, Alexieva-Figusch J, Klijn JGM: Prognostic value of estrogen and progesterone receptors measured by enzyme immunoassays in human breast tumor cytosols. Cancer Res 49: 5823-5828, 1989

    Google Scholar 

  28. Foekens JA, Schmitt M, van Putten WLJ, Peters HA, Bontebal M, Janicke F, Klijn JGM: Prognostic value of urokinase-type plasminogen activator in 671 primary breast cancer patients. Cancer Res 52: 6101-6105, 1992

    Google Scholar 

  29. Foekens JA, Schmitt M, van Putten WLJ, Peters HA, Kramer MD, Janicke F, Klijn JGM: Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and prognosis in primary breast cancer. J Clin Oncol 12: 1648-1658, 1994

    Google Scholar 

  30. Foekens JA, Buessecker F, Peters HA, Krainick U, van Putten WLJ, Look MP, Klijn JGM, Kramer MD: Plasminogen activator inhibitor-2: prognostic relevance in 1012 patients with primary breast cancer. Cancer Res 55: 1423-1427, 1995

    Google Scholar 

  31. Grondahl-Hansen J, Peters HA, van Putten WLJ, Look MP, Pappot H, Ronne E, Dano K, Klijn JGM, Brunner N, Foekens JA: Prognostic significance of the receptor for urokinase plasminogen activator in breast cancer. Clin Cancer Res 1: 1079-1087, 1995

    Google Scholar 

  32. Ronne E, Hoyer-Hansen G, Brunner N, Pedersen H, Rank F, Osborne CK, Clark GM, Dano K, Grondahl-Hansen J: Urokinase receptor in breast cancer tissue extracts. Enzymelinked immunosorbent assay with a combination of mono-and polyclonal antibodies. Breast Cancer Res Treat 33: 199-207, 1995

    Google Scholar 

  33. Foekens JA, van Putten WL, Portengen H, de Koning HY, Thirion B, Alexieva-Figusch J, Klijn JGM: Prognostic value of PS2 and cathepsin D in 710 human primary breast tumors: multivariate analysis. J Clin Oncol 11: 899-908, 1993

    Google Scholar 

  34. Kaplan EL, Meier P: Non-parametric estimation from incomplete observations. J AM Stat Assoc 53: 457-481, 1958

    Google Scholar 

  35. Erlichman C, Murphy KC, Elhakim T: Male breast cancer: a 13-year review of 89 patients. J Clin Oncol 2: 903-909, 1984

    Google Scholar 

  36. Guinee VF, Olsson H, Moller T, Shallenberger RC, van den Blink JW, Peter Z, Durand M, Dische S, Cleton FJ, Zewuster R, Fang Cui M, Lane W, Richter R: The prognosis of breast cancer in males. A report of 335 cases. Cancer 71: 154-161, 1993

    Google Scholar 

  37. Cutuli B, Lacroze M, Dilhuydy JM, Velten M, De Lafontan B, Marchal C, Resbeut M, Graic Y, Campana F, Moncho-Bernier V, De Gislain C, Tortochaux J, Cuillere JC, Reme-Saumon M, N'Guyen TD, Lesaunier F, Le Simle T, Gamelin E, Hery M, Berlie J: Male breast cancer: results of the treatments and prognostic factors in 397 cases. Eur J Cancer 31A: 1960-1964, 1995

    Google Scholar 

  38. Gasparini G, Pozza F, Harris AL: Evaluating the potential usefulness of new prognostic and predictive indicators in node-negative breast cancer patients. J Natl Cancer Inst 85: 1206-1219, 1993

    Google Scholar 

  39. Yap HY, Tashima CK, Blumenschein GR, Eckles NE: Male breast cancer: a natural history study. Cancer 44: 748-754, 1979

    Google Scholar 

  40. Gough DB, Donohue JH, Evans MM, Pernicone PJ, Wold LE, Naessens JM, O'Brien PC: A 50-year experience of male breast cancer: is outcome changing? Surg Oncol 2: 325-333, 1993

    Google Scholar 

  41. Sasco AJ, Lowenfels AB, Pasker-de Jong P: Review article: epidemiology of male breast cancer. A meta-analysis of published case-control studies and discussion of selected aetiological factors. Int J Cancer 53: 538-549, 1993

    Google Scholar 

  42. Vetto J, Jun SY, Padduch D, Eppich H, Shih R: Stages at presentation, prognostic factors, and outcome of breast cancer in males. Am J Surg 177: 379-383, 1999

    Google Scholar 

  43. Goss PE, Reid C, Pintilie M, Lim R, Miller N: Male breast carcinoma: a review of 229 patients who presented to the Princess Margaret Hospital during 40 years: 1955-1996. Cancer 85: 629-639, 1999

    Google Scholar 

  44. Jaiyesimi IA, Buzdar AU, Sahin AA, Ross MA: Carcinoma of the male breast. Ann Intern Med 117: 771-777, 1992

    Google Scholar 

  45. Ribeiro G: Male breast carcinoma-a review of 301 cases from the Christie Hospital & Holt Radium Institute, Manchester. Br J Cancer 51: 115-119, 1985

    Google Scholar 

  46. Crichlow RW, Galt SW: Male breast cancer. Surg Clin North Am 70: 1165-1177, 1990

    Google Scholar 

  47. Early Breast Cancer Trialists’ Collaborative Group: Systemic treatment of early breast cancer by hormonal, cytotoxic, or immune therapy. 133 randomised trials involving 31,000 recurrences and 24,000 deaths among 75,000 women. Lancet 339: 1-15, 71-85, 1992

    Google Scholar 

  48. Patel HZd, Buzdar AU, Hortobagyi GN: Role of adjuvant chemotherapy in male breast cancer. Cancer 64: 1583-1585, 1989

    Google Scholar 

  49. Ribeiro G, Swindell R: Adjuvant tamoxifen for male breast cancer (MBC). Br J Cancer 65: 252-254, 1992

    Google Scholar 

  50. Wagner JL, Thomas CR, Jr., Koh WJ, Rudolph RH: Carcinoma of the male breast: update 1994. Med Pediatr Oncol 24: 123-132, 1995

    Google Scholar 

  51. Morimoto T, Komaki K, Yamakawa T, Tanaka T, Oomine Y, Konishi Y, Mori T, Monden Y: Cancer of the male breast. J Surg Oncol 44: 180-184, 1990

    Google Scholar 

  52. Stalsberg H, Thomas DB, Rosenblatt KA, Jimenez LM, McTiernan A, Stemhagen A, Thompson WD, Curnen MG, Satariano W, Austin DF: Histologic types and hormone receptors in breast cancer in men: a population-based study in 282 United States men. Cancer Causes Control 4: 143-151, 1993

    Google Scholar 

  53. Rayson D, Erlichman C, Suman VJ, Roche PC, Wold LE, Ingle JN, Donohue JH: Molecular markers in male breast carcinoma. Cancer 83: 1947-1955, 1998

    Google Scholar 

  54. Duffy MJ: Proteases as prognostic markers in cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2: 613-618, 1996

    Google Scholar 

  55. Schmitt M, Harbeck N, Thomssen C, Wilhelm O, Magdolen V, Reuning U, Ulm K, Hofler H, Janicke F, Graeff H: Clinical impact of the plasminogen activation system in tumor invasion and metastasis: prognostic relevance and target for therapy. Thromb Haemost 78: 285-296, 1997

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Oncology, Rotterdam Cancer Institute (Daniel den Hoed Kliniek), University Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Marion E. Meijer-van Gelder, Maxime P. Look, Joan Bolt-de Vries, Harry A. Peters, Jan G.M. Klijn & John A. Foekens

Authors
  1. Marion E. Meijer-van Gelder
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Maxime P. Look
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Joan Bolt-de Vries
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Harry A. Peters
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jan G.M. Klijn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. John A. Foekens
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Meijer-van Gelder, M.E., Look, M.P., Bolt-de Vries, J. et al. Clinical relevance of biologic factors in male breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 68, 249–260 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1012221921416

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1012221921416

Search

Navigation