Correlation between complete response to anthracycline-based chemotherapy and topoisomerase II-α gene amplification and protein overexpression in locally advanced/metastatic breast cancer

Abstract

i) HER-2 gene amplification did not seem to be correlated with response to anthracyclines. ii) Both topo-II gene amplification and protein overexpression seem to correlate with response to anthracyclines, although other factors, such as p53 and cell proliferation, are most likely to be involved. iii) The role of combined evaluation of several relevant markers and of potential 'molecular signatures' are currently being evaluated in prospective randomized clinical trials.