Protein profiles (proteomics) discriminating between relapses versus relapse-free survival after adjuvant tamoxifen in 272 patients with primary estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PgR) positive breast cancer

Abstract

9615 Background: Expression of estrogen- (ER) and progesterone receptors (PgR) are predictive factors for effect by endocrine therapy, with highest response rates in patients with a both ER and PgR pos. breast cancer (BC). We have shown that overexpression of c-erbB-2, high expression of VEGF or of VEGFR2 significantly correlate with shorter survival times after adjuvant endocrine therapy in ER and PgR positive BC. Material & Methods: A total of 404 patients with primary operable BC diagnosed 1993 to 1996 received adjuvant endocrine therapy manly tam for 2 or 5 years. Of these 295 patients had a both ER and PgR positive BC, 23 received goserelin and were excluded, leaving 272 patients for proteomics analyses. No patients received adjuvant chemotherapy, median age 64 years (29 to 92), median follow-up time 94 months. Protein profiles were determined by use of Surface Enhanced Laser Desorption /Ionisation Mass spectrometry (SELDI-MS) technology. Samples were run in duplicate; cation exchange array pH 5.0 an...