Impact of tumor biological factors on response to pre-operative epirubicin and paclitaxel chemotherapy in primary breast cancer
Warm, M.; Kates, R.; Mallmann, P.; Dick, Mèlle.; Nawroth, F.; Harbeck, N.; Paepke, S.; Thomas, A.
Anticancer Research 27(2): 1031-1038
2007
ISSN/ISBN: 0250-7005 PMID: 17465239 Document Number: 608894
Background: The objective of this study was to determine the predictive impact of several established tumor biological factors (progesterone receptor, estrogene receptor, HER2/neu and Ki-67) on response to pre-operative combination chemotherapy with epirubicin and paclitaxel in a representative group of primary breast cancer patients. Patients and Methods: Thirty-eight primary breast cancer patients (metastasis-negative) received pre-operative chemotherapy with epirubicin and paclitaxel. The response characteristics analyzed included pathological complete response and partial remission determined by 3D ultrasound, as well as down-staging and breast conserving surgery. Results: Pathological complete response occurred in six patients. Overexpression of HER2/neu, low (negative) hormone receptors and high Ki-67 were all significant positive predictive factors for response to pre-operative chemotherapy. Conclusion: HER2/neu overexpression is predictive for response not only to trastuzumab, but also to epirubicin and paclitaxel.