PURPOSE: To assess the value of changes in the expression of topoisomerase IIalpha (TopoII) and the proto-oncogene erbB-2 (HER-2) as predictors of relapse-free survival in women with operable breast cancer treated with anthracycline-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy-seven patients with primary breast cancer who had undergone neoadjuvant anthracycline-based chemotherapy were included in the present study. TopoII and HER-2 were measured by immunohistochemistry in prechemotherapy and postchemotherapy (at the time of surgery) tumor specimens, and the value of their changes as predictors of relapse-free survival were evaluated by Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard regression analyses. RESULTS: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy resulted in a significant reduction in the percentage of cells expressing TopoII (P < 0.0001). No significant change was observed for HER-2. TopoII and HER-2 expression before chemotherapy predicted tumor response to treatment. Changes in TopoII expression after chemotherapy were strongly associated with a poor relapse-free survival (P < 0.0001) in a Cox multivariate analysis adjusted for other clinicopathologic prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: Changes in TopoII expression after anthracycline-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy is an independent predictor of a poor relapse-free survival in patients with breast cancer. Tumor cells displaying an increased TopoII expression after treatment may be responsible for relapses, and may, therefore, define a group of patients with anthracycline-resistant breast cancer.
PURPOSE: To assess the value of changes in the expression of topoisomerase IIalpha (TopoII) and the proto-oncogene erbB-2 (HER-2) as predictors of relapse-free survival in women with operable breast cancer treated with anthracycline-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy-seven patients with primary breast cancer who had undergone neoadjuvant anthracycline-based chemotherapy were included in the present study. TopoII and HER-2 were measured by immunohistochemistry in prechemotherapy and postchemotherapy (at the time of surgery) tumor specimens, and the value of their changes as predictors of relapse-free survival were evaluated by Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard regression analyses. RESULTS: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy resulted in a significant reduction in the percentage of cells expressing TopoII (P < 0.0001). No significant change was observed for HER-2. TopoII and HER-2 expression before chemotherapy predicted tumor response to treatment. Changes in TopoII expression after chemotherapy were strongly associated with a poor relapse-free survival (P < 0.0001) in a Cox multivariate analysis adjusted for other clinicopathologic prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: Changes in TopoII expression after anthracycline-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy is an independent predictor of a poor relapse-free survival in patients with breast cancer. Tumor cells displaying an increased TopoII expression after treatment may be responsible for relapses, and may, therefore, define a group of patients with anthracycline-resistant breast cancer.
Authors: Roberto Plebani; Gavin R Oliver; Marco Trerotola; Emanuela Guerra; Pamela Cantanelli; Luana Apicella; Andrew Emerson; Alessandro Albiero; Paul D Harkin; Richard D Kennedy; Saverio Alberti Journal: Neoplasia Date: 2012-11 Impact factor: 5.715
Authors: Christian Schindlbeck; D Mayr; C Olivier; B Rack; V Engelstaedter; J Jueckstock; C Jenderek; U Andergassen; U Jeschke; K Friese Journal: J Cancer Res Clin Oncol Date: 2010-01-06 Impact factor: 4.553
Authors: Raymond Tubbs; William E Barlow; G Thomas Budd; Eric Swain; Peggy Porter; Allen Gown; I-Ten Yeh; George Sledge; Charles Shapiro; James Ingle; Charles Haskell; Kathy S Albain; Robert Livingston; Daniel F Hayes Journal: J Clin Oncol Date: 2009-07-20 Impact factor: 44.544
Authors: Shi-Xin Yang; Wings T Y Loo; Louis W C Chow; Xin-hua Yang; Yi Zhan; Lin-Jun Fan; Fan Zhang; Li Chen; Qing-liang Wang; Hua-Liang Xiao; Jin-Long Wu; Xiu-wu Bian; Jun Jiang Journal: J Transl Med Date: 2012-09-19 Impact factor: 5.531