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Influence of circulating c-erbB-2 serum protein on response to adjuvant chemotherapy in node-positive breast cancer patients

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Abstract

This retrospective case control study investigated the therametricvalue of the circulating c-erbB-2 gene product (Her-2,NEU) as (1) an eligibility criterion for highdoses of chemotherapy and (2) response to standardadjuvant chemotherapy in node-positive breast cancer patients. Preoperativec-erbB-2 levels were measured in 211 locally advanced(> 3 nodes positive), pre- and perimenopausal breastcancer patients to determine if circulating levels ofthe gene product can assist in the determinationof appropriate therapeutic options.152 of 211 breast cancer patients received post-operativelya combination chemotherapy including the anthracycline analog mitoxantrone,while 59 patients were treated with conventional CMFtherapy. Using 120 fmol/ml as a cut-off level,elevated c-erbB-2 values were found in 26 (12.3%)patients with locally advanced breast cancer. In univariateanalysis significant survival differences were detected when c-erbB-2‘positive’ patients were compared with c-erbB-2 ‘negative’ patients.However, no significant survival differences were detected, whenc-erbB-2 ‘positive’ patients were compared according to regimenof adjuvant treatment.In multivariate analysis c-erbB-2 was an independent prognosticfactor for predicting disease-free survival, but not foroverall survival. High levels of c-erbB-2 were associatedwith low estrogen and progesterone receptor concentrations ofthe tumor cytosol. There was no correlation betweenelevated c-erbB-2 values and age, tumor size ordegree of nodal involvement. c-erbB-2 was a betterpredictor of risk of recurrence than extent ofnodal involvement or hormone receptor status.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, USA

    Tanja Fehm & Wolfram Jäger

  2. Ciba Corning Diagnostics Corp., East Walpole, Massachusetts

    Peter Maimonis

  3. Ciba Corning Diagnostics Corp., Alameda, California, U.S.A

    Stephen Weitz & Yosh Teramoto

  4. Department of Medical Statistics and Documentation, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany

    Alexander Katalinic

Authors
  1. Tanja Fehm
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  2. Peter Maimonis
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  3. Stephen Weitz
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  4. Yosh Teramoto
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  5. Alexander Katalinic
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  6. Wolfram Jäger
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Fehm, T., Maimonis, P., Weitz, S. et al. Influence of circulating c-erbB-2 serum protein on response to adjuvant chemotherapy in node-positive breast cancer patients. Breast Cancer Res Treat 43, 87–95 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005700812422

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