The utility of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and Her-2/neu status to predict survival in patients undergoing hepatic resection for breast cancer metastases.
BACKGROUND
Hepatic metastases from breast cancer signal a dismal prognosis, with a median survival of 9.5 months.


METHODS
Twenty breast cancer patients with liver metastases underwent hepatic resection, biopsy, or ablation between 1995 and 2004. Hormone receptor status and Her-2/neu expression of primary and metastatic tumors were correlated with overall survival.


RESULTS
At a mean follow-up of 39 months after hepatic resection, median survival was 32 months. Patients undergoing anatomic resection with or without ablation lived significantly longer than those undergoing more limited resections (46 vs. 25 months, P = .016). Survival was significantly greater in patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive primary (P = .02) and metastatic (P < .004) tumors, Her-2/neu-positive metastases (P = .02), </=2 hepatic metastases (P < .002), and age >50 years at metastasectomy (P = .02).


CONCLUSIONS
The ER status of the primary tumor and ER and Her-2/neu status of hepatic metastases, in addition to other clinical factors, may help select patients who would benefit from hepatic metastasectomy.
Martinez
Steve R
SR
Department of Surgical Oncology, Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery, John Wayne Cancer Institute, 2200 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90404, USA. martinezs@jwci.org
Young
Shawn E
SE
Giuliano
Armando E
AE
Bilchik
Anton J
AJ
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D018734:Genes, erbB-2; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis*; D015996:Survival Rate
D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone