HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - ER+her2+ breast cancer may be fundamentally different in its response...

Becky · 05-07-2010, 09:03 AM

And that classification via genetic expression is why Herceptin works on some but not others (genetically they behave like Her2 negative cancers).

This is very much like the presentation Jean and I saw on ER+PRneg cancer (not taking Her2 into consideration). Some ER+PRneg cancers genetic expression is really like ER+PR+, some like ER-PR- and others are truly different and are, in reality, ER+PR-. But the group that is really ER+PR- is quite small.

Also interesting is that some ER+PR+ cancers look like ER-PR- and vice versa. This may be why progression occurs and why some do well on Tamox/AI and some don't and why some ER-PR- women might respond to an AI.

They really need to come up with new and better pathology testing that does things on a genetic expression scale.

05-07-2010, 09:03 AM	#12
Becky Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Stockton, NJ Posts: 4,179	Re: ER+her2+ breast cancer may be fundamentally different in its response... And that classification via genetic expression is why Herceptin works on some but not others (genetically they behave like Her2 negative cancers). This is very much like the presentation Jean and I saw on ER+PRneg cancer (not taking Her2 into consideration). Some ER+PRneg cancers genetic expression is really like ER+PR+, some like ER-PR- and others are truly different and are, in reality, ER+PR-. But the group that is really ER+PR- is quite small. Also interesting is that some ER+PR+ cancers look like ER-PR- and vice versa. This may be why progression occurs and why some do well on Tamox/AI and some don't and why some ER-PR- women might respond to an AI. They really need to come up with new and better pathology testing that does things on a genetic expression scale. __________________ Kind regards Becky Found lump via BSE Diagnosed 8/04 at age 45 1.9cm tumor, ER+PR-, Her2 3+(rt side) 2 micromets to sentinel node Stage 2A left 3mm DCIS - low grade ER+PR+Her2 neg lumpectomies 9/7/04 4DD AC followed by 4 DD taxol Used Leukine instead of Neulasta 35 rads on right side only 4/05 started Tamoxifen Started Herceptin 4 months after last Taxol due to trial results and 2005 ASCO meeting & recommendations Oophorectomy 8/05 Started Arimidex 9/05 Finished Herceptin (16 months) 9/06 Arimidex Only Prolia every 6 months for osteopenia NED 18 years! Said Christopher Robin to Pooh: "You must remember this: You're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think"