RESPONSE TO ADJUVANT CHEMOTHERAPY IN PRIMARY BREAST-CANCER - NO CORRELATION WITH EXPRESSION OF GLUTATHIONE S-TRANSFERASES

Of 139 node-positive breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant chem otherapy, the pre-treatment levels of glutathione S-transferase (GST) classes alpha, mu and pi, were determined by immuno-quantification on Western blots in cytosols of the primary tumours. Their expression was studied with respect to cytosolic oestrogen-receptor, progesterone-re ceptor and cathepsin b levels, and to the length of disease-free survi val. GST class pi was negatively correlated with oestrogen receptor an d progesterone receptor, and positively correlated with cathepsin D. T here was no correlation between GST isoenzymes and the length of disea se-free survival. These data suggest that glutathione S-transferases a re not useful as markers to predict the response to adjuvant chemother apy in human breast cancer.