Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: Until now, little emphasis has been placed on the protein expression profile of male breast cancer (MBC) tumors, due to the rarity of the disease. The present study aimed to identify a proteomic pattern that is characteristic for malignant male breast tissue epithelium. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The protein content of four male breast tumors and corresponding adjacent healthy (control) tissues was analyzed by high-throughput nano-liquid chromatography-MS/MS technology. RESULTS: A total of 2,352 proteins were identified, that correspond to 1,249 single gene products, with diverse biological roles. Of those, a panel of 119 differentially expressed tissue proteins was identified in MBC samples compared to controls; 90 were found to be over-expressed in MBC tissues, while 29 were down-regulated. Concurrently, 844 proteins were detected only in MBC tumors and 197 were expressed exclusively in control mammary samples. CONCLUSION: Differential proteomic expression was found in MBC tissue, leading to improved understanding of MBC pathology and highlighting the need for personalized management of male patients.