21-Gene expression profile assay on core needle biopsies predicts responses to neoadjuvant endocrine therapy in breast cancer patients

Breast. 2009 Jun;18(3):171-4. doi: 10.1016/j.breast.2009.03.005. Epub 2009 May 2.

Abstract

This study examined postmenopausal estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer patients who received prospective neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NAET) with tamoxifen or anastrozole to determine if the 21-gene recurrence score (RS) predicts NAET responses. RS scores were determined from pretreatment core biopsy specimens. Although half of the specimens yielded insufficient RNA, the remaining samples were highly representative. Patients with a low RS tended to respond better than those with an intermediate or high RS (n=43). Response rates by RS were similar between the tamoxifen and anastrozole groups. Patients with a low RS tended to have better relapse-free survival (RFS) than those with an intermediate or high RS (5y-RFS; 100% vs. 84% and 73%, respectively). These results suggest that RS predicts responses to NAET with tamoxifen or anastrozole. Because this pilot study examined a small sample size, these results should be validated in larger studies.

Publication types

  • Controlled Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anastrozole
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / administration & dosage*
  • Biopsy, Needle / methods
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling / methods*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoadjuvant Therapy
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / drug therapy
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / genetics*
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / pathology*
  • Nitriles / administration & dosage
  • Postmenopause
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Risk Factors
  • Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / administration & dosage
  • Tamoxifen / administration & dosage
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Triazoles / administration & dosage

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal
  • Nitriles
  • Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators
  • Triazoles
  • Tamoxifen
  • Anastrozole