title: Biomarkers predicting clinical benefit: fact or fiction?
abstract: Preoperative therapy is increasingly used in operable disease to improve the chance for breast-conservative surgery. Moreover, this strategy allows for a better definition of patient prognosis. Independently from stage at diagnosis and breast cancer subtype, the achievement of a pathological complete response (pCR) is a surrogate marker for long-term outcome. The likelihood of pCR depends on tumor biology, being poorly differentiated tumors with ductal histology, absence of hormone receptors, and high proliferation rate those with a higher chance of achieving a CR. However, pCR is a late efficacy parameter that can be evaluated at the end of the preoperative treatment; moreover, a pCR is achieved in a minority of patients and is not an appropriate efficacy measure for neoadjuvant endocrine therapy. The predictive role of tumor biomarkers such as p53, microtubule-associated tau protein, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase will be reviewed along with potential markers of early treatment effect.
authors: Department of Oncology, Hematology and Respiratory Diseases, University Hospital, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena 41100, Italy.
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Guarneri
authors: Elena
authors: E
authors: Barbieri
authors: Pierfranco
authors: P
authors: Conte
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / Q000032:analysis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C054369:MAPT protein, human; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D016875:tau Proteins; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases