Monitoring of serum Her-2/neu predicts histopathological response to neoadjuvant trastuzumab-based therapy for breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
This prospective pilot study was performed to elucidate whether early changes in serum levels of the Her-2/neu extracellular domain (ECD) reflect histopathological response to trastuzumab-based neoadjuvant therapy in patients with Her-2/neu-overexpressing breast cancer.


METHODS
ECD levels were measured throughout neoadjuvant trastuzumab-based treatment in 16 patients using a Her-2/neu Microtiter ELISA.


RESULTS
In 9 (56%) patients with Her-2/neu shedding tumors (ECD > 15 ng/ml), ECD values (in % of baseline) of non-responders vs. responders were 117% vs. 55% on day 8 (p=0.014), 157% vs. 58% on day 22 (p=0.061) and 114% vs. 46% at restaging (p=0.049).


CONCLUSIONS
Serial monitoring of serum Her-2/neu ECD levels may represent a valuable tool to predict pathological response to trastuzumab-based neoadjuvant therapy in patients with Her-2/neu-overexpressing tumors.
Köstler
Wolfgang J
WJ
Clinical Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine I, University Hospital of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. wolfgang.koestler@akh-wien.ac.at
Steger
Günther G
GG
Soleiman
Afschin
A
Schwab
Barbara
B
Singer
Christian F
CF
Tomek
Sandra
S
Brodowicz
Thomas
T
Krainer
Michael
M
Wiltschke
Christoph
C
Horvat
Reinhard
R
Jakesz
Raimund
R
Zielinski
Christoph C
CC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D000077143:Docetaxel; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000097:blood*; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000068878:Trastuzumab; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000077235:Vinorelbine
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000077143:Docetaxel; D015251:Epirubicin; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D043823:Taxoids; D000068878:Trastuzumab; D014747:Vinblastine; D000077235:Vinorelbine