Oestrogen receptor and epidermal growth factor receptor expression in male breast carcinoma

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Abstract
Male breast carcinomas are probably hormone‐dependent, but receptor studies are few because this is a relatively rare tumour, We have studied 21 cases of male breast carcinoma immunohistochemically for oestrogen receptor (ER) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression employing the antibodies ER‐ICA and 12E on formalinfixed, paraffin‐embedded material. In our series, 86 per cent of male breast cancers were ER‐positive and 76 per cent were EGFR‐positive. Male breast carcinomas do not exhibit the inverse correlation between ER and EGFR expression that characterizes female breast carcinomas. Owing to the limitations of a small series, we were unable to comment on the relationship between ER and EGFR expression and patient survival. However, the relatively high incidence of ER expression may provide a growth advantage for this tumour in a male environment characterized by low levels of oestrogen. In addition, high EGFR expression may also contribute to a poor prognosis independent of ER status.