The prognostic role of serum telomerase activity in advanced breast cancer receiving anthracyclines

Abstract

861 Background: Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths throughout the world. Cytotoxic chemotherapy including anthracyclines is the main stay of the treatment of the advanced breast cancer. However, the resistance is an important problem for the most of the patients. Various prognostic factors have been studied to determine the anthracycline resistance and prognosis. In this preliminary study, we aimed to assess the relation of serum telomerase activity with the response to anthracyclines and role of the serum enzyme activity as a prognostic factor in patients with advanced breast cancer. Methods: Nineteen chemo naive patients with advanced breast cancer were included. The first line chemotherapy regimens included the standard doses of doxorubicine plus cyclophosphamide in 14 patients, cyclophosphamide, fluorouracil and doxorubicine in 4 and cyclophosphamide, fluorouracil and epirubicine in 1 patient. Serum telomerase activity was measured before chemotherapy and every 2 cycles thereafter by using a PCR-ELISA trap assay. ER/PR, c-erbB2 expression of tumor tissues were determined by immunohistochemistry. Results: The median age was 47 years. The overall response rate was 57.9%. Half of the patients have ER/PR and 44.4% have erb-B2 positive tumors. The rate of serum telomerase positivity was 39.5%. Though not significant the patients without erb-B2 expression or non-detectable serum telomerase activity has tended to have better response rates when compared to positive ones (83.3%, P=0.177 and 83.3%, P=0.206, respectively). Though not significant, the patients without serum telomerase have better 1-year survival rate when compared to positive ones (62.5% vs. 47.6%, P=0.350). Conclusions: In conclusion, the results of the c current preliminary study shows that serum telomerase activity could be detected in the sera of the cancer patients and detectable serum levels could be a poor prognostic factor for response to the anthracycline containing regimens and prognosis in patients with advanced breast cancer. No significant financial relationships to disclose.