c-erbB-2 in serum of patients with breast cancer

Int J Biol Markers. 1999 Jan-Mar;14(1):8-15. doi: 10.1177/172460089901400103.

Abstract

c-erbB-2 is an oncoprotein which is overexpressed in some breast cancers. Recently it has been established that the extracellular domain of c-erbB-2 is shed into the serum of patients with breast cancer. There appears to be no association between tumor stage and extracellular domain of c-erbB-2 (c-erbB-2/ECD): c-erbB-2/ECD seems to correlate with patient prognosis whatever the stage of disease. The data also suggest that c-erbB-2/ECD may be useful in monitoring for tumor recurrence and in predicting resistance to hormonal therapy, but not as useful in predicting response to chemotherapy. This may relate to the power of this marker to reflect disease burden, which has an overwhelmingly negative impact on outcome.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / blood*
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Prognosis
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / blood*

Substances

  • Receptor, ErbB-2