RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Among targeted therapies, Herceptin is a monoclonal antibody successfully used on patients with breast cancer expressing Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-2 (HER2 receptors). Oncogramme is a method developed to predict anticancer activity of molecules and thus individualize chemotherapeutic strategies. Before this ex vivo test enters clinical validation, it was desirable to correlate breast cancer cell responses to Herceptin observed through Oncogramme with HER2 expression by these cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Breast tumour fragments were dissociated and obtained cells were cultured in defined medium. After Herceptin treatment, cytotoxicity was detected by cell death analysis, and responses compared to tumour HER2 status were determined by pathologists. RESULTS: Cell responses to increasing doses of Herceptin obtained with Oncogramme were in correlation with HER2 expression. CONCLUSION: Comparison between Herceptin responses obtained with Oncogramme and HER2 status of breast tumour cells confirmed that Oncogramme is a reliable method for prediction of patient cell sensitivity to anticancer drugs.