title: HER2 and response to anthracycline-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The predictive role of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) to adjuvant anthracycline-based chemotherapy remains controversial. Here, we investigated the association between HER2 status and pathological response in breast cancer patients who received neoadjuvant anthracycline-based regimens.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women (n = 538) with operable primary breast cancer received neoadjuvant anthracycline-based chemotherapy. Pathological complete response (pCR) was defined as no invasive breast tumor cells in breast after completion of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. HER2 status was determined by immunohistochemistry and/or by fluorescence in situ hybridization in core biopsy breast cancer tissue obtained before initiation of neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this cohort of 538 patients, 23.9% of patients achieved a pCR in their breast. HER2-positive tumors had a lower rate of pCR than did HER2-negative tumors (14.7% versus 25.7%, P = 0.013); negative HER2 status remained as an independent favorable predictor of pCR after adjusted for age, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, tumor size, chemotherapy cycles, and tumor grade in a multivariate analysis (odds ratio = 3.14; 95% confidence interval = 1.60-6.16, P = 0.001). Furthermore, patients with a pCR had a higher 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate than did patients without a pCR (P = 0.007).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women with HER2-negative breast cancers rather than HER2-positive tumors benefit from anthracycline-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Breast Center.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Beijing Cancer Hospital and Institute, Peking University Cancer Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Breast Center.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Breast Center.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ouyang
authors.affiliation: Breast Center.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Breast Center.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Breast Center.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Breast Center.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Breast Center.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Breast Center. Electronic address: zlxyt2@bjmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xie
mesh_terms: D018943:Anthracyclines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018943:Anthracyclines; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; C508053:ERBB2 protein, human