Retrospective analysis of prognostic significance of the estrogen-inducible pS2 gene in male breast carcinoma.

Abstract

The estrogen-inducible pS2 gene, originally isolated from a breast cancer cell line, is correlated with hormone-dependent female breast tumors and its expression is associated with longer overall and disease-free survival. The authors have investigated 38 samples of carcinomas of the male breast for pS2 expression by using a monoclonal antibody. The immunostaining was compared with clinical data, in particular, to the progesterone receptor status, to assess a possible prognostic value of this parameter. Although most cases (27 of 38) were immunopositive (i.e., above the 5th percentile of immunoreactive cells), no correlation with tumor grade and survival was notable. Therefore, on the contrary to the situation in female breast cancer, pS2 activity failed to constitute a new prognostic parameter in male breast carcinomas.