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. 2021 Oct 8;7:134. doi: 10.1038/s41523-021-00342-5

Table 5.

Studies evaluating the relationship between topoisomerase IIa and response to anthracycline (all received anthracycline).

Study Ref Regimen Dz Setting N Outcomes Topo2 test/definitions
Jarvinen, et al 1998 Tampere University Finland Br J Cancer Epirubicin MBC 55

TopoIIα expression stable from primary to metastatic sample. Validated IHC Ab test on FFPE. Expression TopIIα (at different levels) does not predict response to first-line epirubicin.

FISH not done. HER2 overexpression, lower response to epirubicin.

IHC only rabbit polyclonal Ab; Analyzed as a continuous variable; compared outcome for IHC > or <15%
Rush - Chicago (Retrospective series) Coon 2002 130 Anthracycline NAC 35 Eight HER2 amplified, six TOP2A amplified-all HER2+ favorable response if co-amplified. Expression of TopoIIα is also associated with a favorable response.

FISH: Ratio >2.5 = amplified for HER2 and TOP2A

IHC: Nuclear staining scored 0–4 using JH2.7 Ab

Bergonie Institute MacGrogan 2003 BJC 89 666 EVM-MTC NAC 125 All received epirubicin based therapy; TopoIIα expression predictor of clinical response

IHC HER2+ if 10% moderate- strong+

IHC KiS7 Ab for Topo2a, high >15%

Royal Marsden series Arriola 2007 138 All anthracycline Adj 232 of 245

TOP2A amplification only on HER2+ (20/37 HER2+TOP2A+)

In HER2+ tumors, TOP2A amplification associated with better OS and DFS

Median DFS 115 mos vs 68 mos p = 0.026

Median OS 119 mos vs 94 mos, p = 0.028

No association with TopoIIa expression and outcome

CISH TOP2A and HER2

Positive if >6 signals/nucleus in >50% cancer cells or when large gene copy clusters were seen

IHC with Ki-S1 Ab

HeCOG pooled analysis HE10/97 and HE10/00 Fountzilas 2013 147 E-CMF or E-T-CMF Adj 1031 of 1681

244 HER2 amplified, 102/244 (42%) co-amplified for TOP2A

102/104 TOP2A amplified were HER2 amplified. 40% had CEP17 gain

HER2 amplification, TOP2A amplification and CEP17 gain and HER2/TOP2A co-amplification were not associated with TTR or time to death

TOP2A deletions did not result in lower TopoIIa expression.

No signif association between TOP2A amplification and expression

5% tumors TOP2A deleted

HER2 >2.2 or copy number >6

TOP2A >2.0 or copy number >6

Deletion <0.8

CEP17 gain if >3 CEP signals in >30% nuclei

Milan case series Orlando 2008 171 E or A NAC 23 (of 286) TOP2A amplification predicts pCR after neoadjuvant anthracycline-based therapy (epirubicin or doxorubicin) in ER/PR negative, HER2 overexpressing. 22% (5/23) TOP2A amplified. 4/23 del. 1 chromosome 17 polysomy. pCR 60% (3/5) in TOP2A amp; 17% (3/18) in TOP2A non-amplified. 0/4 TOP2A deleted tumors pCR; Disease progression in one TOP2A deleted tumor.

FISH Ratio

>2 = positive

Ratio <0.8 = del

CALGB 8541 Harris 2009 143 CAF ADJ 624

HER2+ 117/624 = 19%. TOP2A amp 41 (7%), del 69 (11%); 39/41 HER2/TOP2 coamplified

TOP2A amp does not predict benefit from CAF in HER2+.

41 patients TOP2A+ spread over three arms; All pts received anthracycline. No info regarding the distribution of patients across dose strata (very small numbers in each of three dose strata, underpowered).

FISH HER2 & TOP2A

Ratio >2 = positive

Ratio <0.67 = del

SWOG S9313/INT0137 Tubbs 2009 142 AC vs A→C ADJ

1729

Of 3125

1380 patients had both HER2 and TOP2 FISH done. 279/1483 (18.8%) patients HER2 amplified; 65/1626 TOP2A+; 64/65 TOP2+/HER2+. No association between TOP2 alteration and outcome to anthracycline therapy. Positive association with HER2.

FISH HER2

and TOP2ARatio >2 = positive

Ratio <0.7 = del

BCIRG005 Press 2011 136

AC-T

TAC

ADJ 1614 HER2 neg by FISH. 2.6% TOP2A deleted (42/1614). Not one had TOP2 amplification

FISH HER2 and TOP2A

Ratio >2 = positive

<0.82 = deleted

TOP Trial Desmedt 2011 135 Epirubicin all patients NAC 149 ER negative treated with epirubicin monotherapy to look at predictive value of TOP2A. 10/106 samples TOP2A amplified, all HER2 amplified. 33/106 HER2 amplified: higher chance of pCR if HER2 amplified. TOP2A amplification (not expression) associated with pCR (p< 0.001). Developed anthracycline-based score (A-score) to combine Top2A gene signature with tumor invasiveness and immune response signatures

FISH Ratio

>2 = positive

Ratio <0.8 = del

Chen 2013 Eur J Surg Oncol 39:619-26 Anthracycline NAC 99 Topo2a expression associated with pCR with anthracycline-based neoadjuvant therapy IHC 10% = positive

A doxorubicin, Ab antibody, ADJ adjuvant, amp amplification, BCIRG Breast Cancer International Research Group, CALGB Cancer and Leukemia Group B, C cyclophosphamide, CEP17 chromosome enumeration probe 17, CISH chromogenic in situ hybridization, del deleted, DFS disease free survival, E epirubicin, ER estrogen receptor, F fluorouracil, FISH fluorescent in situ hybridization, FFPE fresh frozen paraffin embedded, HD high dose, HeCOG Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group, HR hazard ratio, IHC immunohistochemistry, M methotrexate, MBC metastatic breast cancer, NAC neoadjuvant chemotherapy, NR not reported, OS overall survival, P melphalan, pac paclitaxel, pCR pathologic complete response, p-int p-value interaction test, PR progesterone receptor, RFS relapse-free survival, SWOG Southwest Oncology Group, T docetaxel, V vincristine.