Can Anthracycline Response Be Predicted from HER2 and TOP2A Status of Breast Tumors?

The predictive value of these genetic markers remains unclear.

Adjuvant anthracycline-containing chemotherapy is associated with better outcomes than is nonanthracycline therapy in patients with early-stage breast tumors that overexpress human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2; J Natl Cancer Inst 2008; 100:14). Although additional analysis suggests that amplification of the TOP2A gene — an anthracycline target that is frequently coamplified with HER2 — might be the true predictive marker of sensitivity to anthracylines, teasing out the effects of these genetic abnormalities on treatment response is difficult because HER2 and TOP2A mutations often occur simultaneously. Clouding the issue further, some data suggest HER2 overexpression is not linked to anthracycline efficacy.

To further examine the …

Reviewing Author

William J. Gradishar, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardLilly; AstraZeneca; Gilead

Grant/Research SupportBreast Cancer Research Foundation

Editorial BoardsClinical Breast Cancer; Oncology; Annals of Surgery; Breast Cancer Research and Treatment

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNational Comprehensive Cancer Network (Chair, Breast Cancer Panel); American Board of Internal Medicine (Medical Oncology Board)