Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 30, 2026

Studying Triple Negative Breast Cancer Using Orthotopic Breast Cancer Model
Published on: March 20, 2020
Hormone receptor-negative as a predictive factor for pathologic complete response to neoadjuvant therapy in breast
Luana Carolina Ferreira Fiuza Silva1, Lilian Silva Martins de Arruda1, Waldec Jorge David Filho1
1Programa de Pós Graduação , Faculdade de Medicina do ABC , Santo André , SP , Brazil .
Objective:
To define a predictive factor for pathologic complete response, compare the oncologic outcomes associated with the degree of pathologic response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and to analyze pathologic complete response as a prognostic factor for overall survival and progression-free survival.
Methods:
A retrospective study of patients admitted to Hospital Estadual Mário Covas and Hospital Anchieta from 2008 to 2012, with locally advanced breast cancer. Hormone receptor status, HER2 status, histologic and nuclear grade, age upon diagnosis and histological type of the tumor were analyzed. Pathologic evaluation of the tumor was subdivided into pathologic complete response, defined by the absence of tumor; intermediate response, considered as a favorable stage; and poor response, considering low-responder patients. Data obtained were submitted to statistical analysis.
Results:
The study included 243 patients. There was an association of pathologic complete response with HER-2 negative, histological grade 3, stage III, hormone receptor negative, positive lymph node, older age and more advanced tumors. However, after multivariate analysis the only predictor of pathologic complete response was the presence of negative hormone receptor. By analyzing the prognostic factors, hormone receptor negative was considered as an independent risk factor, and pathologic complete response was considered as an independent protective factor.
Conclusion:
Hormone receptor negative is predictive of pathologic complete response and is an isolated risk factor for lower progression-free survival and overall survival. Pathologic complete response is a protective factor for these same survival analyses.
Related Concept Videos
Intracellular Hormone Receptors
Types of Hormones
Hormonal Regulation
Target Cell Response to Hormones
Notably, the cellular response can be regulated by altering the number of receptors expressed in the cell. For example, prolonged exposure to elevated hormone levels results in a gradual decline or down-regulation in the number of receptors for that specific hormone on the cell surface. Conversely, in response to low hormone levels, cells may use up-regulation, producing an...
Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
Plant Hormones

