title: Impact of tumor biological factors on response to pre-operative epirubicin and paclitaxel chemotherapy in primary breast cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study was to determine the predictive impact of several established tumor biological factors (progesterone receptor, estrogene receptor, HER2/neu, and Ki-67) on response to pre-operative combination chemotherapy with epirubicin and paclitaxel in a representative group of primary breast cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-eight primary breast cancer patients (metastasis-negative) received pre-operative chemotherapy with epirubicin and paclitaxel. The response characteristics analyzed included pathological complete response and partial remission determined by 3D ultrasound, as well as down-staging and breast conserving surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pathologically complete response occurred in six patients. Overexpression of HER2/neu, low (negative) hormone receptors and high Ki-67 were all significant positive predictive factors for response to pre-operative chemotherapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HER2/neu overexpression is predictive for response not only to trastuzumab, but also to epirubicin and paclitaxel.
authors.affiliation: Department of Senology, University of Cologne, Germany. mathias.warm@uk-koeln.de
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Warm
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kates
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mallmann
authors.forename: Michèlle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dick
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nawroth
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Harbeck
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paepke
authors.forename: Anke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015251:Epirubicin; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D017239:Paclitaxel; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone