Luigi Rossi1, Monica Verrico2, Silverio Tomao3,4, Fabio Ricci5, Antonella Fontana6, Gian Paolo Spinelli1, Maria Colonna7, Patrizia Vici8, Federica Tomao9. 1. Oncology Unit, Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Giustiniano, Aprilia, Italy. 2. Oncology Unit, Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Giustiniano, Aprilia, Italy. monica.verrico@virgilio.it. 3. Division of Medical Oncology A, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. 4. Consorzio Interuniversitario per la Bio-Oncologia (CINBO), Chieti, Italy. 5. Department of Surgery, Santa Maria Goretti Hospital, Latina, Italy. 6. Department of Radiotherapy, Santa Maria Goretti Hospital, Latina, Italy. 7. Oncology Unit, A. Fiorini Hospital, Terracina, Italy. 8. Division of Medical Oncology 2, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy. 9. Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Many studies have indicated that the response to therapy and the prognostic impact of a pathologic complete response after neoadjuvant treatment differ among breast cancer subtypes. METHODS: The aim of our study is to evaluate the effect of this treatment on the expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors, human epidermal growth hormone receptor 2 and Ki67 in breast cancer. We identified 125 patients. RESULTS: The estrogen receptor modified its expression from positive to negative in 8% patients and from negative to positive in 22%; progesterone in 21% and in 37% cases. Median Ki-67 value was 20.9% at biopsy and 18% after, HER-2 status did not show a remarkable change before or after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). We have identified a significant reduction in Ki-67 expression levels after chemotherapy in patients with a pathologic response. Detection of pretreatment Ki-67 could identify patients most likely to benefit from NACT. CONCLUSIONS: NACT can change the status of ER, PgR, and Ki-67 expression in patients with breast adenocarcinoma, but it did not exert a significant effect on HER-2 status; HER-2 amplification appears to be more stable. We have identified a prognostic role for a decreased expression of PgR and Ki-67 after preoperative chemotherapy in breast cancer patients.
PURPOSE: Many studies have indicated that the response to therapy and the prognostic impact of a pathologic complete response after neoadjuvant treatment differ among breast cancer subtypes. METHODS: The aim of our study is to evaluate the effect of this treatment on the expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors, human epidermal growth hormone receptor 2 and Ki67 in breast cancer. We identified 125 patients. RESULTS: The estrogen receptor modified its expression from positive to negative in 8% patients and from negative to positive in 22%; progesterone in 21% and in 37% cases. Median Ki-67 value was 20.9% at biopsy and 18% after, HER-2 status did not show a remarkable change before or after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). We have identified a significant reduction in Ki-67 expression levels after chemotherapy in patients with a pathologic response. Detection of pretreatment Ki-67 could identify patients most likely to benefit from NACT. CONCLUSIONS: NACT can change the status of ER, PgR, and Ki-67 expression in patients with breast adenocarcinoma, but it did not exert a significant effect on HER-2 status; HER-2 amplification appears to be more stable. We have identified a prognostic role for a decreased expression of PgR and Ki-67 after preoperative chemotherapy in breast cancerpatients.
Entities:
Keywords:
Breast cancer; Estrogen receptor; Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2; Ki67; Neoadjuvant chemotherapy; Progesterone receptor