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C-erbB-2 expression does not predict response to docetaxel or sequential methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil in advanced breast cancer

Sjostrom, J ; Collan, J ; von Boguslawski, K ; Franssila, K ; Bengtsson, NO ; Mjaaland, I ; Malmström, Per LU ; Ostenstad, B ; Wist, E and Valvere, V , et al. (2002) In European Journal of Cancer 38(4). p.535-542
Abstract
Breast cancer patients with c-erbB-2-positive tumours seem to benefit from anthracycline-based adjuvant chemotherapy. The predictive value of c-erbB-2 for taxane sensitivity is not yet clear. The purpose of this study was to assess whether c-erbB-2 expression is associated with clinical sensitivity to docetaxel (T) or sequential methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil (MF). A total of 283 patients with metastatic breast cancer were initially enrolled in a randomised multicentre trial comparing docetaxel with sequential MF in advanced breast cancer. Paraffin-embedded blocks of the primary tumour were available for 131 patients (46%). c-erbB-2 status was determined by immunohistochemistry using a polyclonal antibody to the c-erbB-2 protein. C-erbB-2... (More)
Breast cancer patients with c-erbB-2-positive tumours seem to benefit from anthracycline-based adjuvant chemotherapy. The predictive value of c-erbB-2 for taxane sensitivity is not yet clear. The purpose of this study was to assess whether c-erbB-2 expression is associated with clinical sensitivity to docetaxel (T) or sequential methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil (MF). A total of 283 patients with metastatic breast cancer were initially enrolled in a randomised multicentre trial comparing docetaxel with sequential MF in advanced breast cancer. Paraffin-embedded blocks of the primary tumour were available for 131 patients (46%). c-erbB-2 status was determined by immunohistochemistry using a polyclonal antibody to the c-erbB-2 protein. C-erbB-2 expression was scored in a semi-quantitative fashion using a 0 to 3+ scale. Staining scores 2+ or greater were considered positive, Response evaluation was performed according to World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. Overall 54 (42%) patients had c-erbB-2-positive tumours. There was no association between treatment outcome and c-erbB-2 overexpression. The overall response rates (RR) (n = 128) among c-erbB-2 -negative and -positive patients were 35 and 44%, respectively (P=0.359). In the MF arm (n = 62), the RR was somewhat higher in the c-erbB-.2 overexpressors (33% versus 18%, P = 0. 18). In the docetaxel arm the RRs were very similar, regardless of the c-erbB-2 expression (53% versus 53%). While several studies have suggested a prognostic and putative predictive significance of c-erbB-2 overexpression in early breast cancer, the significance of c-erbB-2 expression as a predictive factor for response to various cytotoxic treatments in advanced breast cancer is still controversial. In this study, c-erbB-2 expression could not predict response to either MF or T. Thus, tumours over-expressing c-erbB-2 are not uniformly more sensitive to taxanes and c-erbB-2 expression cannot yet be applied clinically as a predictive factor for response in advanced breast cancer. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
predictive factor, docetaxel, chemotherapy, breast cancer, c-erbB-2
in
European Journal of Cancer
volume
38
issue
4
pages
535 - 542
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • wos:000174636700024
  • scopus:0036191721
ISSN
1879-0852
DOI
10.1016/S0959-8049(01)00403-8
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
3d1338f7-b480-4146-9e80-b44126b1be8e (old id 341161)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 11:55:53
date last changed
2022-01-26 20:21:41
@article{3d1338f7-b480-4146-9e80-b44126b1be8e,
  abstract     = {{Breast cancer patients with c-erbB-2-positive tumours seem to benefit from anthracycline-based adjuvant chemotherapy. The predictive value of c-erbB-2 for taxane sensitivity is not yet clear. The purpose of this study was to assess whether c-erbB-2 expression is associated with clinical sensitivity to docetaxel (T) or sequential methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil (MF). A total of 283 patients with metastatic breast cancer were initially enrolled in a randomised multicentre trial comparing docetaxel with sequential MF in advanced breast cancer. Paraffin-embedded blocks of the primary tumour were available for 131 patients (46%). c-erbB-2 status was determined by immunohistochemistry using a polyclonal antibody to the c-erbB-2 protein. C-erbB-2 expression was scored in a semi-quantitative fashion using a 0 to 3+ scale. Staining scores 2+ or greater were considered positive, Response evaluation was performed according to World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. Overall 54 (42%) patients had c-erbB-2-positive tumours. There was no association between treatment outcome and c-erbB-2 overexpression. The overall response rates (RR) (n = 128) among c-erbB-2 -negative and -positive patients were 35 and 44%, respectively (P=0.359). In the MF arm (n = 62), the RR was somewhat higher in the c-erbB-.2 overexpressors (33% versus 18%, P = 0. 18). In the docetaxel arm the RRs were very similar, regardless of the c-erbB-2 expression (53% versus 53%). While several studies have suggested a prognostic and putative predictive significance of c-erbB-2 overexpression in early breast cancer, the significance of c-erbB-2 expression as a predictive factor for response to various cytotoxic treatments in advanced breast cancer is still controversial. In this study, c-erbB-2 expression could not predict response to either MF or T. Thus, tumours over-expressing c-erbB-2 are not uniformly more sensitive to taxanes and c-erbB-2 expression cannot yet be applied clinically as a predictive factor for response in advanced breast cancer.}},
  author       = {{Sjostrom, J and Collan, J and von Boguslawski, K and Franssila, K and Bengtsson, NO and Mjaaland, I and Malmström, Per and Ostenstad, B and Wist, E and Valvere, V and Bergh, J and Skiold-Petterson, D and Saksela, E and Blomqvist, C}},
  issn         = {{1879-0852}},
  keywords     = {{predictive factor; docetaxel; chemotherapy; breast cancer; c-erbB-2}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{535--542}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{European Journal of Cancer}},
  title        = {{C-erbB-2 expression does not predict response to docetaxel or sequential methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil in advanced breast cancer}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0959-8049(01)00403-8}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/S0959-8049(01)00403-8}},
  volume       = {{38}},
  year         = {{2002}},
}