Variations in Gene Expression and Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Breast Carcinoma

In this study, we performed a screening of 266 gene expressions in breast carcinomas and carried out correlations with histological response to either FEC-100 (fluorouracil-epirubicin-cyclophosphamide; n = 16) or Tax-Epi (docetaxel-epirubicin; n = 12) treatment. Gene expression in biopsies obtained before and after one course of chemotherapy was analyzed. Expression of specific genes was significantly changed after one course of chemotherapy, particularly for Tax-Epi treatment. Comparison with histological response for both treatments revealed that only good responders exhibited changes in gene-expression profile. These results agree that expression of different genes changes in response to anthracycline-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy and show, for the first time, that response to docetaxel-based treatment implied also changes in gene-expression profile.