Breast and prostate cancer

There are interesting similarities between carcinomas of the breast and prostate. Both genetic and exogenous factors are probably important in the development of breast and prostate cancers. Since there is an alarming increasing trend in the incidence of both cancers worldwide including India, high level of apprehension/awareness has been created among the general educated population. Furthermore, both cancers are strongly linked with the expression of the c-erbB-2 oncogene which has been the focus of basic research in the recent past. This gene belongs to the family of growth factor receptors and it has important implication in diagnosis and future treatment modalities.