Effects of anastrozole on the intratumoral gene expression in locally advanced breast cancer

Intratumoral levels of E1 (oestrone), E1S (oestrone sulphate) and E2 (oestradiol) are significantly reduced by treatment with the aromatase inhibitor anastrozole regardless of treatment response. The purpose of the present pilot study was to look for additional markers of biochemical response to aromatase inhibitors on mRNA expression level. Whole genome expression was studied using microarray analysis of breast cancer tissue from 12 patients with locally advanced tumors, both before and following 15 weeks of treatment with the aromatase inhibitor anastrozole (Arimidex®). Intratumoral mRNA levels for a subset of genes coding for steroid metabolizing enzymes, hormone receptors and some growth mediators involved in cell cycle control were analysed by quantitative RT-PCR. There was a correlation between the two methods for some but not all genes. The mRNA expression levels of the different genes were correlated to each other and to the intratumoral levels of E1, E2 and E1S, before and after the treatment. Notably, a correlation of the E1/E2 metabolic ratio to the mRNA levels of CYP19A1 was observed before treatment (r = 0.745, p < 0.005). Whole genome expression analysis of these 12 breast cancer patients revealed similar tumor classification to previously published larger studies. Tumors with no or low expression of ESR1 (oestrogen receptor) clustered together and were characterized by a strong basal-like signature highly expressing keratins 5/17, cadherin 3, frizzled and apolipoprotein D, among others. The luminal epithelial tumor cluster, on the other hand, highly expressed ESR1, GATA binding protein 3 and N-acetyl transferase. An evident ERBB2 cluster was observed due to the marked over-expression of the ERBB2 gene and GRB7 and PPARBP in this patient material). Using significance analysis of microarrays (SAM), we identified 298 genes significantly differently expressed between the partial response and progressive disease groups.