[Phase II clinical trial of neoadjuvant hormone therapy in comparison with chemotherapy of patients with breast cancer].

Data are presented on a randomized study (stage II) which was undertaken to assess the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (doxorubicin+paclitaxel) vis-a-vis endocrine therapy with aromatase inhibitors (anastrazole or exemestane) in postmenopausal women with ER-positive and/or PgR-positive tumors. Preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy was well tolerated and showed similar rates of overall response as compared with the latter regimen.

[Prognostic and predictive factors in breast cancer].

Recent data on prognostic and predictive significance of breast cancer-associated molecular markers are presented and their clinical value in making individual prognosis and choosing adequate therapy is discussed. Markers of tumor proliferation, steroid hormone receptors, factors of epidermal cell growth, plasminogen activators and inhibitors, factors influencing angiogenesis and apoptosis and genome characteristics are considered. It is concluded that only Ki-67, ER, PR and Her-2/neu may be recommended for clinical use.