Abstract
Aim: To evaluate predictive values of histopathologic markers Estrogen receptors (ER), Progesterone receptors (Pgr) and Her2 in clinical and pathologic response of breast cancers treated with neoadjuvant anthracycline based chemotherapy (NAC).
Study design: Comparative Cross-sectional Study.
Place and duration of study: FMH College of Medicine & Dentistry and Ittefaq Hospital, Lahore between 2011 and 2012.
Methods: Pretreatment core biopsy was obtained on 56 patients with unresected breast cancer. Histologic features and immunohistochemical stains for ER, Pgr, and Her2 were obtained. All patients received anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimen with 5-fluorouracil, adriamycin or epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide 4 to 6 cycles before surgery. The pathologic response in the surgical excision specimen was assessed using Miller Pyane System of classification for neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
Results: Tumors with negative ER and Pgr status responded better to neoadjuvant therapy as compared to ER and Pgr positive tumors.
Conclusions: The prediction of the efficacy of chemotherapy based on evaluation of hormonal receptor status can help us select patients who are likely to respond well to this mode of treatment. It can also predict patients who are unlikely to benefit from the treatment and thus save them from undesired chemotherapy effects.