title: Evaluation of ER, PgR, HER-2 and Ki-67 as predictors of response to neoadjuvant anthracycline chemotherapy for operable breast cancer.
abstract: Primary systemic therapy (PST) for operable breast cancer enables the identification of in vivo biological markers that predict response to treatment. A total of 118 patients with T2-4 N0-1 M0 primary breast cancer received six cycles of anthracycline-based PST. Clinical and radiological response was assessed before and after treatment using UICC criteria. A grading system to score pathological response was devised. Diagnostic biopsies and postchemotherapy surgical specimens were stained for oestrogen (ER) and progesterone (PgR) receptor, HER-2 and cell proliferation (Ki-67). Clinical, radiological and pathological response rates were 78, 72 and 38%, respectively. There was a strong correlation between ER and PgR staining (P < 0.0001). Higher Ki-67 proliferation indices were associated with PgR- tumours (median 28.3%, PgR+ 22.9%; P = 0.042). There was no relationship between HER-2 and other biological markers. No single pretreatment or postchemotherapy biological parameter predicted response by any modality of assessment. In all, 10 tumours changed hormone receptor classification after chemotherapy (three ER, seven PgR); HER-2 staining changed in nine cases. Median Ki-67 index was 24.9% before and 18.1% after treatment (P = 0.02); the median reduction in Ki-67 index after treatment was 21.2%. Tumours displaying >75% reduction in Ki-67 after chemotherapy were more likely to achieve a pathological response (77.8 vs 26.7%, P = 0.004).
authors.affiliation: Academic Oncology Unit, Mount Vernon Hospital, Rickmansworth Road, Northwood, Middlesex HA6 2RN, UK.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Burcombe
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Makris
authors.forename: P I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Richman
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Daley
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Noble
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pittam
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dove
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018943:Anthracyclines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018943:Anthracyclines; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone