title: Plasma HMGB-1 after the initial dose of epirubicin/docetaxel in cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The response of breast cancer patients to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) is highly heterogeneous, and reliable predictive instruments remain to be defined. High-mobility group box-1 (HMGB-1) protein is a cell death marker, which is easily detectable in plasma. We hypothesized that the initial dose of NCT with epirubicin/docetaxel induces changes in plasma HMGB-1 which could allow for an early prediction of response to therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  First, we analysed whether epirubicin/docetaxel releases HMGB-1 from HCC1143 breast cancer cells in vitro. Thereafter, plasma HMGB-1 levels before and 1-4 days after the first dose of epirubicin/docetaxel-based NCT were determined in 41 breast cancer patients and correlated with pathological response to treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment of HCC1143 cells with epirubicin/docetaxel resulted in a significant HMGB-1 release in vitro. In vivo, HMGB-1 levels increased significantly only in responders (pathological complete response or partial remission, n = 22) but not in nonresponders (stable or progressive disease, n = 19).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that early dynamic changes of plasma HMGB1 could be a promising biomarker to predict the final response to NCT in breast cancer patients.
authors: Surgical Research Laboratories, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors: Tobias
authors: T
authors: Arnold
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Michlmayr
authors: Suzann
authors: S
authors: Baumann
authors: Christopher
authors: C
authors: Burghuber
authors: Ursula
authors: U
authors: Pluschnig
authors: Rupert
authors: R
authors: Bartsch
authors: Guenther
authors: G
authors: Steger
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Gnant
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Bergmann
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Bachleitner-Hofmann
authors: Rudolf
authors: R
authors: Oehler
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D024243:HMGB1 Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D024243:HMGB1 Protein; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D015251:Epirubicin