Impact of c-erb2 status on survival after high dose chemotherapy in high-risk breast cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the impact of c-erb2 status on survival after high-dose chemotherapy.


METHODS
Between March 1997 and June 2004, a total of 54 women with breast cancer who has at least 8 metastatic lymph nodes underwent high-dose chemotherapy with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in Gulhane Military Medical School, Ankara, Turkey. Archival specimens were analyzed by fluorescent in situ hybridization to determine the impact of c-erb2 status after peripheral blood stem cell transplantation on survival. The patients were divided into c-erb2 negative (n=20) and positive (n=11) groups.


RESULTS
No statistically significant differences were detected between c-erb2 negative and positive groups regarding 5-year disease-free survival (41 and 27%, log rank p=0.11), and overall survival (60 and 45%, p=0.33). Transplant related mortality did not differ between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
We found no differences between c-erb2 negative and positive groups regarding disease-free and overall survival. To clarify the value of the c-erb2 status in predicting outcome after high-dose chemotherapy, prospective randomized studies are needed.
Kuzhan
Okan
O
Department of Medical Onclology Gulhane School of Medicine, Etlik, Ankara, Turkey.
Ozet
Ahmet
A
Ulutin
Cuneyt
C
Kurt
Bulent
B
Komurcu
Seref
S
Ozturk
Bekir
B
Ataergin
Selmin
S
Gunhan
Omer
O
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D036102:Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases