HER-2/neu在新辅助化疗乳腺癌中的表达及其意义分析

目的：检测并分析HER－2／neu在新辅助职乳腺癌组织中的表达，探讨新辅助化疗患者中HER－2/neu的临床意义。方法：采用免疫组织化学法分别检测HER－2／neu在165例新辅助化疗及73例未化学乳腺癌组织中的表达状况，统计分析HER－2/neu表达与化疗、病理类型及腋淋巴结转移情况的关系。结果：新辅助化疗组HER－2／neu表达低于未化疗组（29．7％比43．8％，P＜0．05）；浸润性非特殊型乳腺部HER-2/neu阳性表达明显高于浸润性特殊型（粘液腺癌0／4），但浸润性非特殊型乳腺癌之间HER－2／neu表达差异无显著性意义；腋淋巴结转移组HER-2/neu表达明显高于腋淋巴结阴性组（40．1％比25．0％，P＜0．05）。结论：HER-2/neu可能成为在新辅助化疗乳腺癌患者优于淋巴结状况的一个评价肿瘤生物学行为、预测治疗效果指导综合治疗方案制定以及判断预后的重要标志。     

激素受体和HER-2及Ki-67预NSL腺癌新辅助化疗疗效价值的分析

目的：探讨乳腺癌组织中雌激素受体（ER）、孕激素受体（PR）、人表皮生长因子受体2（HER-2）及Ki-67的表达状态对新辅助化疗反应的预测作用以及化疗前后其表达差异对疗效的影响。方法：免疫组织化学方法检测新辅助化疗前后118例乳腺癌组织的ER、PR、HER-2及Ki-67的表达情况,并分析其与新辅助化疗疗效的关系。结果：118例新辅助化疗乳腺癌病例中,ER-和PR-组pCR分别为26．1％和27．1％,明显高于ER＋组11．1％和PR＋组6．8％,P-0．003。HER-2和Ki-67的表达对新辅助化疗疗效无显著影响。新辅助化疗前ER、PR与Ki-67的表达呈明显负相关,P〈0．001;新辅助化疗后Ki-67的高表达病例数显著减少,P-0．001。结论：ER-／PR-的患者对新辅助化疗更为敏感,Ki-67在化疗后发生了显著下调,提示新辅助化疗能降低肿瘤的增殖活性。ER、PR及Ki-67可以作为新辅助化疗疗效的预测指标。     

双侧原发性乳腺癌ER、PR及HER-2表达特征及其与预后的关系

目的探讨雌激素受体（ER）、孕激素受体（PR）及人表皮生长因子受体2（HER-2）表达状态在双侧原发性乳腺癌（bilateral primary breast cancer,BPBC）患者第一癌与第二癌间的异同及其与预后的关系。方法回顾1961年1月至2007年12月间本院收治并确诊的565例BPBC患者临床资料,BPBC患者占同期全部乳腺癌患者的2．09％,其中同时性双侧乳腺癌（以6个月为界）198例占35．04％。采用免疫组织化学SP法进行ER、PR、HER-2检测。采用SPSS14．0中X^2检验比较ER、PR、HER-2在同时性和异时性BPBC表达的一致率及BPBC第一癌与第二癌ER、PR、HER-2的阳性率;采用Kaplan—Meier生存分析法研究BPBCER、PR和HER-2与患者预后的关系。结果同时性双侧原发性乳腺癌激素受体表达一致率要高于异时性双侧原发性乳腺癌（ER：X^2=5．30,P=0．02;PR：X^2=15．88,P=0,00）。双侧原发性乳腺癌两侧癌灶ER、PR和HER-2的表达没有区别（ER：X^2=2．02,P=0．16;PR：X^2=0．86,P=0．35：HER-2：X^2=0．70,P=0．79）。BPBC两侧ER和HER-2表达状况与其预后相关（ER：P=0．03,HER-2 P=0．03）。结论BPBC两侧癌灶激素受体及HER-2表达状态相仿。同时性BPBCER、PR表达的一致性高于异时性BPBC。两侧乳腺癌均检测激素受体和HER-2的表达对预后判断有一定的指导意义。     

早期乳腺癌患者手术、化疗后血清HER-2/neu ECD水平变化

目的：探讨乳腺癌患者手术或化疗后血清HER-2／neu ECD水平变化的临床意义。方法：双抗体夹心ELISA法检测早期乳腺癌患者及其配对手术、化疗前后血清HER-2／neu ECD水平，进行统计分析。结果：82例乳腺癌患者手术后，血清HER-2／neu ECD水平90．24％（74／82）下降，3．66％（3／82，C．V≤5％）未变化，6．10％（5／82）升高；46例乳腺癌患者化疗后HER-2／neu ECD水平升高组（15／46）对化疗的反应率73．33％（11／15）与HER-2／neu ECD水平非升高组（HER-2／neu ECD水平下降或不变，C．V≤5％，31／46）对化疗的反应率77．42％（24／31）无差别（P〉0．05）。结论：检测乳腺癌患者血清HER-2／neu ECD水平变化对预后可能具有一定的临床提示意义。     

环氧化酶-2在乳腺癌中高表达的临床意义

[目的]探讨环氧化酶-2（COX-2）在乳腺癌组织中的表达及其与临床病理因素和预后的相关性。[方法]应用免疫组织化学方法检测60例乳腺癌石蜡包埋组织中COX-2、HER-2／neu和血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）的表达。[结果]60例乳腺癌组织中COX-2的高表达率为383％（23／60）。在淋巴结转移阳性组和阴性组以及不同临床分期病人COX-2的表达差异有显著性（P〈0．05）；COX-2的表达与HER-2／neu、VEGF表达密切相关（P〈0．01）。COX-2和HER-2／neu共同表达的患者TNM分期较晚．COX-2低表达的患者总生存期较长，与高表达患者的总生存期有显著性差异（P〈0．05）。[结论]乳腺癌组织中COX-2的高表达可提示乳腺癌恶性程度高和预后不良．COX-2和HER-2／neu同时高表达预后更差．     

KAI-1、Ki-67和HER-2/neu表达在T1-3N0M0肾癌术后转移中的意义

背景与目的：随着我国经济水平的提高和国民自我保健意识的增强，体检成为发现肾癌的重要手段，因此早期肾癌的比例上升，但是国内尚缺乏大样本T1-3N0M0肾癌术后转移发生率的调查，而且术后转移机制目前尚不明确，有关KAI-1、Ki-67标记指数、HER-2／neu与肾癌迟发性转移关系的研究更少。因此本研究拟探讨KAI-1、Ki-67和HER-2／neu表达与T1-3N0M0肾癌术后迟发性转移的相关性和临床意义。方法：随访1991—2000年经手术治疗T1-3N0M0肾癌患者。以术后转移病例为转移组，未转移者为对照组。应用EnVision二步法以HER-2／neu和Ki-67多克隆抗体、用PowerVision二步法以KAI-1单克隆抗体分别对两组肾癌标本行免疫组织化学染色：采用卡方检验对比两组KAI-1、Ki-67和HER-2／neu表达差异。结果：T1-3N0M0肾癌241例术后发现迟发性转移24例（转移组），未转移194例（对照组），失访23例。218例肿瘤KAI-1、HER-2／neu和Ki-67表达率分别是82．6％、27．5％和83．5％。转移组KAI-1表达率（20．8％）和过表达率（4．2％）显著低于对照组的90．2％、73．7%（均P〈0．001）。转移组HER-2／neu表达（62．5％）和过表达率（20．8％）均高于对照组的23．2％、0（均P〈0．05、0．001）：转移组Ki-67过表达率（54．2％）显著高于对照组的3．6％（P〈0．001）。结论：KAI-1、Ki-67和HER-2／neu均与T1-3N0M0肾癌术后转移的发生存在相关性。三者均有助于评估肾癌预后。应对KAI-1表达缺失、HER-2／neu和Ki-67过表达的T1-3N0M0期肾癌手术后进行密切随访。     

SUCI02选择性抑制HER-2/neu受体酪氨酸激酶磷酸化及其对HER-2/neu过表达乳腺癌细胞生长的影响

背景与目的：HER-2／neu受体过度表达与肿瘤的发生发展、对化疗的敏感性以及患者预后有关;我们通过大量筛选,发现SUCI02[N-(4-乙氧苯基)-2-羟基酸胺]能抑制HER2／neu受体酪氨酸激酶磷酸化。本研究拟探讨SUCI02对HER-2／nell过度表达的肿瘤细胞生长的影响。方法：用免疫沉淀、免疫印迹法检测：HER-2／neu受体酪氨酸激酶磷酸化、酪氨酸激酶蛋白水平的变化;MTT法检测SUCI02对乳腺癌细胞的抑制作用。结果：SUCI02能抑制HER-2／neu受体的自身磷酸化,在乳腺癌MDA—MB．453m1细胞中,SUCI02对HER-2／neu受体自身磷酸化的IC50为4．34μg／ml,对HER-2／neu的表达没有任何影响。在用SUCI02处理MDA-MB-453ml细胞30min后,用培养液洗掉药物,继续培养不同时间,结果可见洗掉药物后30min,SUCI02对HER-2／neu受体磷酸化的抑制就开始恢复。SUCI02处理MDA-MB-453ml细胞后其下游靶分子MAPK和AKT激活明显受抑制,呈现剂量依赖性。SUCI02对EGFR受体酪氨酸磷酸化在最高剂量用到40μg／ml下没有明显的抑制作用。应用MTT法检测了SUCI02对过度表达HER-2／neu的MDA-MB-453ml细胞的生长抑制作用,同时应用过表达EGFR的乳腺癌MDA—MB-468细胞作为对照,结果可见SUCI02对HER-2／neu过表达的肿瘤细胞相对于过表达EGFR的肿瘤细胞有更明显的抑制作用。结论：SUCI02选择性抑制HER-2／neu受体酪氨酸激酶磷酸化,阻断其下游信号途径,对过度表达HER-2／neu的肿瘤细胞具有更强的生长抑制作用。     

雌激素受体阴性乳腺癌 HER －2过表达及与影像学和临床病理特征的关系

目的：探讨人类表皮生长因子受体 HER －2过表达在雌激素受体阴性（ER －）乳腺癌诊断中的价值及其与钼靶、超声影像学特征及临床病理特征的关系,并与 ER －／HER －2－乳腺癌进行比较。方法：收集临床资料完整的 ER －乳腺癌患者190例,其中 HER －2过表达（HER －2＋）乳腺癌患者78例,HER －2无过表达（HER －2－）型乳腺癌患者112例。比较两组患者的钼靶及超声影像学表现和临床病理特征。结果：在这190例 ER －乳腺癌患者中,HER －2＋乳腺癌组与 HER －2－组比较,年龄差异具有统计学意义（P ＝0．0049）;均具有较高的病理组织学分级,组间差异无统计学意义（P ＝0．296）。HER －2＋乳腺癌组更多表现为淋巴结阳性（P ＝0．003）。钼靶 X 线检查 HER －2＋与 HER －2－两组间比较,差异具有统计学意义（P ＜0．001）。单纯钙化 HER －2＋组（46．2％）较 HER －2－组（13．4％）,差异具有统计学意义（P ＜0．001）;单纯肿物 HER －2－组（58．0％）较 HER －2＋组（34．6％）,差异具有统计学意义（P ＝0．0038）;肿物特征 HER －2＋组与 HER －2－组比较,差异具有统计学意义（P ＝0．017）;HER －2＋组（42．5％）多表现为分叶状肿物,较 HER－2－组（14．9％）,差异具统计学意义（P ＝0．0030）;HER －2－组（33．3％）多为圆形肿物,较 HER －2＋组（12．5％）,差异具有统计学意义（P ＝0．013）;HER －2＋组与 HER －2－组肿物边缘组间比较,差异具有统计学意义（P ＜0．001）;HER －2＋组（57．5％）较多变现为毛刺,较 HER －2－组（14．9％）,差异具有统计学意义（P ＜0．001）;HER －2－组较 HER －2＋组光滑程度,差异具有统计学意义（P ＜0．001）;HER －2＋组（89．8％）更多表现为恶性钙化,较 HER －2－组（29．7％）,差异具有统计学意义。超声检查 HER －2＋组与 HER －2－组,差异具有统计学意义（P ＜0．005）;肿块边缘差异具有统计学意义（P ＜0．001）;内部回声差异具有统计学意义（P ＝0．014）。结论：不同类型的乳腺癌有不同的生物学特征,其钼靶影像学表现也不尽相同,了解 ER －HER －2＋型乳腺癌的钼靶及超声影像学特征,可帮助临床医师预测乳腺癌这一亚型及相关类型和患者的预后,以及评估患者对各种治疗方法的敏感性,有利于制定最优的治疗方案。     

乳腺癌组织c—met和HER-2表达与临床病理因素相关性分析

目的：检测乳腺癌组织c-met和HER_2表达状况,分析c-met和HER-2表达的相关性,以及c—met和HER-2表达与临床病理及相关分子生物学信息的相关性。方法：回顾性分析临沂市人民医院2005-06-10～2012-02—20乳腺癌患者临床和病理资料106例,采用免疫组织化学染色方法测定c-met及HER_2基因表达,分析c—met与HER-2表达相关性及其与各临床病理指标的相关性。结果：106例乳腺癌患者中,c-met阳性表达率为64．15％（68／106）,HER-2为50．94％（54／106）,ER为59．43％（63／106）,PR为50．00％（53／106）。HER-2基因表达与乳腺癌患者腋窝淋巴结转移（P=0．001）和肿瘤临床分期（P〈0．001）相关;c-met基因表达与乳腺癌患者腋窝淋巴结转移（P=0．004）及肿瘤临床分期（P=0．001）相关。两者表达与肿瘤直径以夏ER和PR表达差异无统计学意义。HER-2与c—met表达之间无相关性,r=0．071,P=0．172。结论：联合检测c-met及HER_2基因对乳腺癌的淋巴结转移、预后判断及指导临床治疗具有十分重要的意义。     

乳腺癌组织HR与HER-2和SATB1表达相关性研究

目的：检测乳腺癌组织中激素受体（hormonereceptor,HR）、人表皮生长因子受体2（humanepidermalgrowthfactOrreceptor2,HER-2）和特异性核基质结合蛋白（specialATrichsequencebindingprotein1,SATB1）的表达,探讨HR与HER-2、SATB1及临床病理参数的关系。方法：应用免疫组织化学方法检测乳腺癌患者雌激素受体（estrogenre-ceptor,ER）、孕激素受体（progesteronereceptor,PR）、HER-2及SATB1蛋白的表达,荧光原位杂交方法检测HER-2基因扩增状态,统计学方法分析HR（包括ER及PR）的表达与HER-2、SATB1及临床病理参数之间的相关性。结果：乳腺癌组织ER及PR的表达均与患者年龄正相关（r=0．286,P=0．010;r=0．249,P=0．026）,ER的表达与肿瘤分级负相关（r=-0．306,P=0．006）;ER及PR的表达与肿瘤大小、组织学类型、淋巴转移情况及TNM分期均无明显相关性,P值均〉0．05。HR的表达与SATB1、HER-2及SATB1／HER2双阳性表达均呈负相关关系（r=-0．248,P=0．027;r=-0．392,P〈0．001;r=-0．150,P〈0．001）。结论：HR阳性患者治疗及预后相对较好;乳腺癌组织HR的表达与HER-2和SATB1呈负相关关系,三者之间可能存在相互联系的信号通路。     

激素受体ER与PR及AR在男性乳腺癌与良性病变组织中的表达

目的:探讨激素受体(ER、PR和AR)在男性乳腺癌的表达及三种受体之间表达的相关关系。方法:采用免疫组化方法对ER、PR、AR三种受体进行检测,并用SPSS软件分析各组差异。结果:ER、PR在23例男性乳腺癌患者组织中表达阳性率较良性病变低,分别为82.6%、56.5%与良性疾病相比有明显的统计学差异(OR分别为:4.32和5.25,P<0.05),AR表达与ER、PR之间表达不相关。结论:男性乳腺癌患者中ER、PR表达阳性率较良性病变低,AR表达与ER、PR之间表达不相关。     

Hormone receptor system

The expression, structure and function of estrogen receptor (ER), and the mechanism of action of hormonal treatments of breast cancer were discussed in order to formulate the rationale for the hormonal treatment of patients with advanced and/or recurrent breast cancer. The ER molecule were not observed in the epithelial cells of normal breast tissues, but they appeared in the cells of either hyperplastic adenosis or cancer. The ER negative cells, however, were existed in some degree even in ER rich cases. The ER staining was positive during almost all stages of cell cycle of ER positive breast cancer cell line. The estrogen-dependent growth of breast cancer has been proven to be mediated with the ER system. The structural change of ER after binding with estradiol provokes the expression of growth relating protein genes and put the cells into the DNA synthetic stage of cell cycle. On the other hand, the mechanism of action of hormonal treatment of breast cancer is mainly demonstrated through the interference on the function of ER. The cells sensitive to hormonal treatment are stabilized within the G0-G1 stages of cell cycle. The hormone non-dependent cells escape from these effects of treatment. Therefore, the exclusive hormonal treatment has only a limited indication for patients with advanced or recurrent breast cancer. Concomitant chemoendocrine therapy should be as the treatment of choice in those cases. The suitable combination of drugs, the duration of treatment, the sequential administration or withdrawal of drugs, should be analyzed. The possible usefulness of "missile therapy" targeting ER or growth factors using radio-labeled estradiol or anti-growth factor antibodies was suggested.     

Most cystosarcoma phyllodes and fibroadenomas have progesterone receptor but lack estrogen receptor: stromal localization of progesterone receptor

Biochemical study of fibroepithelial tumors of the female breast showed presence of progesterone receptor (PgR) in all five cystosarcoma phyllodes (two malignant, three benign), and in 11 of 13 fibroadenomas tested. Estrogen receptor (ER) was detected in only one of five cystosarcomas and 2 of 13 fibroadenomas. The relative volumes occupied by epithelium and stroma in each tumor were measured from histologic sections. The results were consistent with presence of PgR in the stroma and ER in the epithelium. Different types of cystosarcoma (benign and malignant) and different types of fibroadenomas (intracanalicular, pericanalicular, and mixed) did not differ significantly in content of PgR, and mean levels of PgR in cystosarcoma were comparable with those in fibroadenomas. The presence of PgR in cystosarcomas suggests that progestational therapy, and possibly other forms of hormonal therapy, should be tested in the treatment of advanced, malignant cystosarcoma phyllodes.     

MicroRNA signatures predict oestrogen receptor, progesterone receptor and HER2/neu receptor status in breast cancer

Introduction

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease encompassing a number of phenotypically diverse tumours. Expression levels of the oestrogen, progesterone and HER2/neu receptors which characterize clinically distinct breast tumours have been shown to change during disease progression and in response to systemic therapies. Mi(cro)RNAs play critical roles in diverse biological processes and are aberrantly expressed in several human neoplasms including breast cancer, where they function as regulators of tumour behaviour and progression. The aims of this study were to identify miRNA signatures that accurately predict the oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and HER2/neu receptor status of breast cancer patients to provide insight into the regulation of breast cancer phenotypes and progression.

Methods

Expression profiling of 453 miRNAs was performed in 29 early-stage breast cancer specimens. miRNA signatures associated with ER, PR and HER2/neu status were generated using artificial neural networks (ANN), and expression of specific miRNAs was validated using RQ-PCR.

Results

Stepwise ANN analysis identified predictive miRNA signatures corresponding with oestrogen (miR-342, miR-299, miR-217, miR-190, miR-135b, miR-218), progesterone (miR-520g, miR-377, miR-527-518a, miR-520f-520c) and HER2/neu (miR-520d, miR-181c, miR-302c, miR-376b, miR-30e) receptor status. MiR-342 and miR-520g expression was further analysed in 95 breast tumours. MiR-342 expression was highest in ER and HER2/neu-positive luminal B tumours and lowest in triple-negative tumours. MiR-520g expression was elevated in ER and PR-negative tumours.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that ANN analysis reliably identifies biologically relevant miRNAs associated with specific breast cancer phenotypes. The association of specific miRNAs with ER, PR and HER2/neu status indicates a role for these miRNAs in disease classification of breast cancer. Decreased expression of miR-342 in the therapeutically challenging triple-negative breast tumours, increased miR-342 expression in the luminal B tumours, and downregulated miR-520g in ER and PR-positive tumours indicates that not only is dysregulated miRNA expression a marker for poorer prognosis breast cancer, but that it could also present an attractive target for therapeutic intervention.     

Oestrogen receptor negative-progesterone receptor positive phenotype in 1,211 breast tumours.

From 1,211 breast cancers, 15 oestrogen receptor (ER) negative-progesterone receptor (PgR) positive breast cancers by conventional dextran coated charcoal steroid binding assays in cytosol were reassessed using Elisa techniques with monoclonal antireceptors antibodies in the cytosolic and nuclear fractions, and immunocytochemistry on cryostat sections. Three categories of results were found in this series. Two tumours were false negative ER due to receptor sites occupancy by hormonal contraceptive treatment. A second group of ten tumours, with high PgR concentrations and immunoreactive ER, corresponds to non ER-binding forms of receptors. One PgR positive tumour was found to be devoid of PgR by using monoclonal antiPgR antibodies might contain a progesterone binding cyst protein. Only two tumours were found to be true ER negative-PgR positive by all methods. This rare phenotype deserves further study of the regulation of the PgR gene.     

Impact of metastatic estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor status on survival

Summary Hormone responsive breast cancer is usually determined by the presence of estrogen receptors (ER) or progesterone receptors (PR) on primary invasive breast cancers. Adjuvant and metastatic hormone therapy are recommended based on primary ER and PR determination. Little information is available to determine if primary hormone receptors correlate with metastatic disease and if survival is influenced by metastatic receptor status. We retrospectively compared primary to metastatic tumor ER and PR content from 200 metastatic breast cancer patients. ER and PR analyses were available in both primary and metastatic disease in 200 and 173 patients, respectively. There was a correlation between both the ER and PR in the primary and metastatic lesion (p < 0.001). However, in 60 of 200 (30%) patients, discordance between primary and metastatic ER was noted. Tumors from 68 of 173 (39.3%) showed discordance for PR. In 39 (19.5%) patients, the ER primary status was positive and metastatic status was negative and in 21 (10.5%) patients, the primary status was negative and metastatic status was positive. Survival from the time of metastatic diagnosis was calculated. Those patients with ER positive primary and metastatic tumors (Positive/Positive) or only the metastatic lesion (Negative/Positive) had similar median survival (1131 and 1111 days, respectively). However, patients with tumors that changed from positive primary to negative metastasis (Positive/Negative) experienced significantly shorter median survival (669 days, p < 0.05). Likewise, median survival (580 days) was significantly shorter for patients with primary and metastasis ER negative (Negative/Negative, p < 0.001) compared to Positive/Positive (p < 0.001) or compared to Negative/Positive (p < 0.02). The changes in PR status were not associated with a change in survival. We found a significant discordance between hormone receptor content of primary versus metastatic breast cancer. The ER status of the metastatic lesion was a better predictor of survival. Therefore, optimal metastatic treatment cannot be determined solely on primary ER and PR analysis.     

Transferrin receptor is inversely correlated with estrogen receptor in breast cancer

Summary The transferrin receptor (TfR) has been identified as a marker for proliferation in cells in culture and can be accurately quantitated by specific radioimmunoassay. This study directly quantifies levels of TfR and compares them to levels of estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PgR) in biopsy material obtained from patients with infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the breast. A comparison of ER and TfR levels displayed an exponential distribution which was log-normalized to yield a linear inverse relationship (r = –.44). Although ER was strongly correlated with PgR, there was no correlation pattern between TfR and PgR. Multiple regression analysis indicated that 73% of ER levels could be predicted by a combination of the other two markers, PgR (representing degree of differentiation) and TfR (representing growth rate). Transferrin receptor levels were also found to be correlated (p<.05) with menopausal status, with tumors from premenopausal patients exhibiting higher levels, whereas the opposite pattern was shown for estrogen receptor levels (p<.02). Neither steroid receptor nor transferrin receptor levels were correlated to stage of disease or presence of nodal involvement. Addition of TfR level as an independent marker for proliferation may facilitate the decision-making process in the treatment of individual cases of carcinoma of the breast.     

Androgen receptor in estrogen receptor positive breast cancer: Beyond expression

In recent years, new therapeutic approaches have reshaped the overall strategy of breast cancer (BC) treatment and have markedly improved patient survival. This is, in part, due to novel therapies for estrogen receptor (ER)-positive BC. Unfortunately, many patients present de novo resistance to these therapies or develop an acquired resistance over time. Therefore, research is now focused on discovering new molecular targets to overcome these resistances. Interestingly, preclinical and clinical studies have shown a critical role for the cross-talk between androgen receptor (AR) and ER in luminal-like BC. AR is expressed in >60% of BC and in up to 90% of ERα-positive tumors. Multiple studies suggest that AR is associated with a favorable prognosis. However, AR overexpression and, in particular, the high AR:ER ratio, seem to be involved in resistance to hormonal treatment. In this setting, a group of BCs could benefit from AR-inhibitors; nevertheless, some ER-positive BC patients do not seem to benefit from this strategy. Therefore, it is crucial to identify biomarkers that would enable the selection of patients who might benefit from combination treatment with ER and AR inhibitors.