Growth factor signalling in clinical breast cancer and its impact on response to conventional therapies: a review of chemotherapy

Endocr Relat Cancer. 2005 Jul:12 Suppl 1:S125-33. doi: 10.1677/erc.1.01024.

Abstract

Adjuvant chemotherapy has been shown to provide survival benefits in patients with breast cancer, but some patients still relapse despite this. There is therefore a need for molecular markers present within the primary tumour that can predict for chemotherapy sensitivity or resistance. Until now, no single marker has emerged into routine clinical practice, but several candidate pathways are being extensively investigated. This paper summarises the current status of growth factor singalling and p53 function in this context. The data on human epidermal growth factor receptor-2, topoisomerase II and p53 expression in a variety of breast cancer treatment settings are discussed.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, Neoplasm / analysis*
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / metabolism
  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / analysis*
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / analysis*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / analysis*
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / analysis*
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Biomarkers
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type II