Constanze Vogel1, Wolfram Malter1, Bernd Morgenstern1, Sebastian Ludwig1, Jörg Janne Vehreschild2,3, Stefanie Hamacher4, Peter Mallmann1, Verena Kirn5, Fabinshy Thangarajah6. 1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany. 2. Department I for Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany. 3. German Centre for Infection Research, partner-site Bonn-Cologne, Cologne, Germany. 4. Department of Medical Statistics, Informatics and Epidemiology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany. 5. Department of Senology, Heilig Geist Krankenhaus, Cologne, Germany. 6. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany Fabinshy.Thangarajah@uk-koeln.de.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: The aim of the present study was to analyze metastasized breast cancer (BC) patients with regard to the discordance of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). We especially aimed to analyze the association between the change of tumor biology and previous treatment or metastatic sites. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with metastasized BC who were treated at the Department of Gynecology/Breast Center of the University Hospital of Cologne were analyzed. RESULTS: Loss of HER2 occurred more frequently in lymph node metastases that were not in the axillary region (p=0.026). Letrozole showed a significant correlation with loss of ER and/or PR (p=0.041). Improved overall survival and post-metastasis survival were noticed with a gain of HER2 (p=0.044 and p=0.009, respectively) and concordant positive ER and PR status (p=0.002 and p=0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: The discordance of receptors and the dependence of BC on therapies as well as metastatic sites stresses the necessity of early sample taking to offer patients suitable therapy options. Copyright
BACKGROUND/AIM: The aim of the present study was to analyze metastasized breast cancer (BC) patients with regard to the discordance of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and humanepidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). We especially aimed to analyze the association between the change of tumor biology and previous treatment or metastatic sites. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with metastasized BC who were treated at the Department of Gynecology/Breast Center of the University Hospital of Cologne were analyzed. RESULTS: Loss of HER2 occurred more frequently in lymph node metastases that were not in the axillary region (p=0.026). Letrozole showed a significant correlation with loss of ER and/or PR (p=0.041). Improved overall survival and post-metastasis survival were noticed with a gain of HER2 (p=0.044 and p=0.009, respectively) and concordant positive ER and PR status (p=0.002 and p=0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: The discordance of receptors and the dependence of BC on therapies as well as metastatic sites stresses the necessity of early sample taking to offer patients suitable therapy options. Copyright