Open AccessPredictors of response to exemestane as primary endocrine therapy in estrogen receptor–positive breast cancer
Author(s) -
Yamashita Hiroko,
Takahashi Satoru,
Ito Yukashi,
Yamashita Toshinari,
Ando Yoshiaki,
Toyama Tatsuya,
Sugiura Hiroshi,
Yoshimoto Nobuyasu,
Kobayashi Shunzo,
Fujii Yoshitaka,
Iwase Hirotaka
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
cancer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.035
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1349-7006
pISSN - 1347-9032
DOI - 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2009.01274.x
Subject(s) - exemestane , aromatase , medicine , endocrinology , estrogen receptor , breast cancer , cancer research , cancer
Endocrine therapy is the most important treatment of choice for estrogen receptor (ER)‐positive breast cancer. Potential mechanisms for resistance to endocrine therapy involve ER‐coregulatory proteins and cross‐talk between ER and other growth factor–signaling networks. However, the factors and pathways responsible for endocrine therapy resistance, particularly resistance to aromatase inhibitors, have not been clearly established. Sixteen postmenopausal patients with ERα‐positive primary breast cancer were treated daily with 25 mg of exemestane (an aromatase inhibitor) for 6 months. Expressions of ERα, ERβ, progesterone receptor (PgR), androgen receptor (AR), amplified in breast cancer 1 (AIB1), aromatase, epidermal growth factor receptor, human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2, Ki67, cyclin D1, p53, Bcl2, signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (Stat5), and insulin‐like growth factor binding protein 5 (IGFBP5), and phosphorylations of ERα serine (Ser) 118, ERα Ser167, Akt Ser473, and p44/42 MAPK threonine (Thr) 202/tyrosine (Tyr) 204, were examined by immunohistochemistry on pretreatment tumor biopsies and post‐treatment surgical specimens. Analyses were made to test for correlations with response to exemestane. Of the 16 patients, seven responded and nine retained stable disease. High‐level expression of AIB1 and phosphorylation of Akt Ser473 were significantly associated with a better response to exemestane, suggesting that these factors could be considered as predictors of exemestane response. Expressions of ERα, ERβ, PgR, aromatase, Ki67, cyclin D1, and p53, and phosphorylations of ERα Ser118, ERα Ser167, and p44/42 MAPK Thr202/Tyr204, were decreased, whereas expressions of Stat5 and IGFBP5 were increased in post‐treatment specimens compared to the values in pretreatment biopsies. Thus, the analysis of factors involved in the estrogen‐dependent growth‐signaling pathways may be useful in identifying patients responsive to exemestane. ( Cancer Sci 2009)