Predictive value of eIF4E reduction after neoadjuvant therapy in breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
Initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) overexpression has prognostic significance in breast cancer. Up-regulation of downstream gene products associated with high eIF4E overexpression has been linked to chemoresistance. We hypothesize patients whose tumors had eIF4E reduction after neoadjuvant chemotherapy will have lower cancer recurrence compared with those who did not.


METHODS
Seventeen locally advanced breast cancer patients were accrued, and tumor specimens were obtained before and after neoadjuvant therapy. eIF4E was quantified by Western blots. Primary end-point was cancer recurrence.


RESULTS
Low eIF4E was defined as < or =7.5-fold elevation and high eIF4E was >7.5-fold elevation. Of 17 patients, six tumors remained low after neoadjuvant therapy, six dropped from high to low eIF4E, and five remained high. With a median follow-up of 29 mo, four of five patients with tumors that remained high have recurred while only three of 12 patients in the low eIF4E post-therapy group have recurred (P=0.05, chi(2)). Survival analysis using the Kaplan-Meier method showed a higher rate of cancer recurrence in patients with post-treatment high eIF4E overexpression (P=0.026, log rank test).


CONCLUSIONS
Breast cancer patients whose tumors had low eIF4E overexpression after neoadjuvant chemotherapy had lower cancer recurrence compared with those who did not.
Hiller
David J
DJ
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center and Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, Shreveport, Louisiana 71130, USA.
Chu
Quyen
Q
Meschonat
Carol
C
Panu
Lori
L
Burton
Gary
G
Li
Benjamin D L
BD
D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D039561:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000378:metabolism*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D039561:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E