Objective: To investigate the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) among different molecular subtypes of breast cancers using molecular classification with Ki-67 (ER+ PR+ HER2+ Ki-67) or without Ki-67 (ER+ PR+ HER2). Methods: One hundred and twenty-seven cases of invasive breast cancer confirmed by core needle biopsy before NAC were collected from January 2007 to December 2009 and diagnosed at West China Hospital, Sichuan University. The cases were classified into different molecular subtypes using molecular classifications with or without Ki-67. Their clinical and pathological response to NAC was evaluated and compared. Results: The different subtypes using both molecular classifications showed significant difference in clinical response(with Ki-67: χ²=22.40, P<0.01; without Ki-67: χ²=9.202, P=0.027)but not pathological(P>0.05) response to NAC. By multivariate analysis, Ki-67 was predictive for a clinical complete response (P=0.041) and clinical overall response (P<0.01); also Ki-67 was the only clinicopathological factor predictive of pathological response(P=0.041). Conclusion The molecular classification with Ki-67 is better to predict breast cancers responsiveness to NAC than the molecular classification without Ki-67.

PURPOSE: It is widely accepted that aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity is a signature of breast cancer stem cells, and high activity has been reported to be associated with poor clinical outcome. The aim of this study was to assess the expression of members of the ALDH family of isozymes in breast cancer tissues and to evaluate the implications of the results. METHODS: We analyzed paraffin-embedded tumor tissue from 160 patients with breast cancer. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining was performed on the slides using antibodies against different ALDH family members. We collated the IHC results with patient clinical characteristics and determined their prognostic value. In addition, we analyzed normal, hyperplastic, and carcinomatous tissues in situ to check their ALDH distributions. RESULTS: All the tested ALDH members were detected in the various tissue types, but at different levels. Only ALDH 1A3 was found to be significantly associated with distant metastasis (p=0.001), disease-free survival (p<0.001), and overall survival (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The level of ALDH 1A3 in breast cancer tissue is a predictive marker of a poor clinical outcome.
Aldehyde Dehydrogenase* ; Antibodies ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Isoenzymes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; Prognosis ; Stem Cells