Tumour markers predictive of successful treatment of breast cancer with primary endocrine therapy in patients over 70 years old: a prospective study.
We report a prospective study of women over 70 years of age with early breast cancer who had primary endocrine treatment. Core biopsies of the cancer were taken at diagnosis and assessed using immunohistochemistry for oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), pS2, cyclin D1, p21, p53, HER2 and MIB1 (Ki67). Outcome analysis was performed at a median follow-up of 70 months. Correlation was sought between tumour marker measurements and disease control. When all patients were considered, a significant relationship was found between the absence of ER and PgR, the presence of p53 and EGFR, and high MIB1 and treatment failure. However, for the ER positive cancers, no other marker predicted treatment failure or relapse. There remains an important clinical need to identify those ER positive breast cancers that will not respond to endocrine treatment, and those in which the response will be short-lived.
Stotter
Anne
A
Breast Surgery, Glenfield Hospital, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Groby Road, Leicester, LE3 9QP, UK. anne.stotter@uhl-tr.nhs.uk
Walker
Rosemary
R
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001706:Biopsy; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D013629:Tamoxifen; C513496:MIB1 ligase, human; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; D066246:ErbB Receptors