Lack of association between amplification of her-2 and response to preoperative taxanes in patients with breast carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
The objective of the current study was to determine whether her-2 amplification was associated with a pathologic response to preoperative chemotherapy with taxanes in patients with early-stage breast carcinoma.


METHODS
The authors evaluated 71 patients treated for AJCC Stage II and III breast carcinoma with preoperative taxanes whose tissue specimens were still available. Fifty-seven patients (80%) had received paclitaxel and 14 (20%) had received docetaxel (4 cycles of either drug). Amplification of the her-2 gene was determined using fluorescence in situ hybridization.


RESULTS
The median patient age was 49 years (range, 21-70 years). Forty-eight patients (68%) had Stage II breast carcinoma and 23 (32%) had Stage III disease. her-2 gene amplification was detected in 19 tumor specimens (28%). Hormone receptors (estrogen and/or progesterone) were detected in 11 her-2-positive tumor specimens (58%) and in 31 her-2-negative tumor specimens (85%). Eight pathologic complete responses (pCR; breast and axillary lymph nodes) occurred, 3 (16%) in patients with her-2-positive tumor specimens and five (10%) in patients with her-2-negative tumor specimens (P = 0.68). Twelve patients achieved pCR in the breast, 5 (26%) in patients with her-2-positive tumors and 7 (15%) in patients with her-2-negative tumors (P = 0.3). At a median follow-up of 61 months, none of the patients with a pCR developed recurrent disease, regardless of their her-2 status. The progression-free and overall survival rates were similar in both HER-2-positive and her-2-negative groups (P = 0.45 and P = 0.14, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
her-2 gene amplification was not found to be predictive of a pathologic response to preoperative taxanes in patients with early-stage breast carcinoma.
Gonzalez-Angulo
Ana M
AM
Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Krishnamurthy
Savitri
S
Yamamura
Yuko
Y
Broglio
Kristine R
KR
Pusztai
Lajos
L
Buzdar
Aman U
AU
Hortobagyi
Gabriel N
GN
Esteva
Francisco J
FJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000601:surgery; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D000077143:Docetaxel; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification; D018734:Genes, erbB-2; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D017239:Paclitaxel