[HER-2 and ER expression in prediction of chemo-sensitivity of taxane for advanced breast cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the predictive value of HER-2 and ER expression for chemosensitivity of taxane in the treatment of advanced breast cancer.


METHODS
Of 268 advanced breast cancer patients treated: 71 were by paclitaxel alone, 32 by docetaxel alone, 110 by paclitaxel combined with anthracylines or gemcitabine or platins and 55 by docetaxel-based combinations. HER-2 and ER expression of all patients treated by taxane underwent immunohistochemical (IHC) assay.


RESULTS
Univariate analysis showed: the response rate (RR) in HER-2 overexpression group was 56.7%, and in HER-2 weak expression group 33.3% (P = 0.003). The response rate in ER positive group and ER negative group was 33.3% and 48.9%, respectively, with a significant difference (P = 0.015). The RR was 67.6% in ER negative but HER-2 overexpression group. However, in ER positive but HER-2 weak expression group and the other groups, the RR were around 35% (P < 0. 01). Multivariate analysis showed that overexpression of HER-2 was the only significant factor to predict the chemosensitivity of taxane (P = 0. 007), but the ER, Karnofsky performance score (KPS), anthracylines, metastatic sites were not the statistically significant chemo-sensitivity predictive factors for taxane.


CONCLUSIONS
ER negative and/or HER-2 overexpression, especially latter, may be associated with good response in advanced breast cancers treated by taxane.
Liu
Fang
F
Department of Medical Oncology, First Hospital, China PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100037, China.
Jiang
Ze-Fei
ZF
Song
San-Tai
ST
Sun
Jun-Zhong
JZ
Zhang
Shao-Hua
SH
Feng
Sheng-Qiang
SQ
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000077143:Docetaxel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D043823:Taxoids / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000077143:Docetaxel; D017239:Paclitaxel; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D043823:Taxoids