HER2 expression identifies dynamic functional states within circulating breast cancer cells.

ABSTRACT: Circulating tumour cells in women with advanced oestrogen-receptor (ER)-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer acquire a HER2-positive subpopulation after multiple courses of therapy. In contrast to HER2-amplified primary breast cancer, which is highly sensitive to HER2-targeted therapy, the clinical significance of acquired HER2 heterogeneity during the evolution of metastatic breast cancer is unknown. Here we analyse circulating tumour cells from 19 women with ER⁺/HER2^- primary tumours, 84% of whom had acquired circulating tumour cells expressing HER2. Cultured circulating tumour cells maintain discrete HER2⁺ and HER2^- subpopulations: HER2⁺ circulating tumour cells are more proliferative but n

SUBMITTER: Jordan NV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5161614 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature