Growth factor signalling in clinical breast cancer and its impact on response to conventional therapies: a review of chemotherapy.
Adjuvant chemotherapy has been shown to provide survival benefits in patients with breast cancer, but some patients still relapse despite this. There is therefore a need for molecular markers present within the primary tumour that can predict for chemotherapy sensitivity or resistance. Until now, no single marker has emerged into routine clinical practice, but several candidate pathways are being extensively investigated. This paper summarises the current status of growth factor singalling and p53 function in this context. The data on human epidermal growth factor receptor-2, topoisomerase II and p53 expression in a variety of breast cancer treatment settings are discussed.
Barrett-Lee
P J
PJ
Cardiff Breast Unit, Velindre NHS Trust, Cardiff CF14 2 TL, UK. Peter.Barrett-Lee@velindre-tr.wales.nhs.uk
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015415:Biomarkers; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53