title: Topoisomerase 2 alpha: a real predictor of anthracycline efficacy?
abstract: Anthracyclines are frequently used in the adjuvant setting for breast cancer treatment since it is considered that anthracycline-based chemotherapy treatment benefits breast cancer patients. Nonetheless, these drugs are associated with severe side effects and predictive factors, for sensitivity to anthracyclines, are warranted in clinical practice. Topoisomerase 2 alpha (TOP2A) is considered to be the molecular target of these drugs. The potential predictive value of TOP2A amplification and overexpression has been extensively studied in breast cancer patients treated with anthracyclines. However, results are not conclusive. In this paper, we review some of the published studies addressing the predictive value of TOP2A as well as the cellular functions of this enzyme and its status in breast cancer tissue.
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Atocha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.forename: Trinidad
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Caldés
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Díaz-Rubio
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martín
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018943:Anthracyclines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D054316:Biomarkers, Pharmacological / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D000075223:Poly-ADP-Ribose Binding Proteins; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018943:Anthracyclines; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D054316:Biomarkers, Pharmacological; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D000075223:Poly-ADP-Ribose Binding Proteins; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II; C000618811:TOP2A protein, human