Clinical analyses

The clinical samples were collected at the Affiliated Cancer Hospital and Institute of Guangzhou Medical University. All samples were collected with informed consent from the patients and all examining procedures were performed with the approval of the Internal Review and Ethics Boards (IRB) of the hospital. Our study is compliant with the ‘Guidance of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) for the Review and Approval of Human Genetic Resources’ and it has been formally approved for the export of human genetic material or data from China. Serum samples and tumor tissues were obtained from 40 HER2-positive breast cancer patients treated with the neoadjuvant Herceptin-containing regimen TAC (Docetaxel, Doxorubicin and Cyclophosphamide). Drs. Ni Qiu and Hongsheng Li, who are physician scientists and our collaborators in the current study, assessed the patients’ responses. Good response was defined as CR (Complete Response) with disappearance of all target lesions or PR (Partial Response) with at least 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions after the neoadjuvant therapy including Herceptin. Poor response was defined as SD (Stable Disease) without sufficient shrinkage to quality for PR or PD (Progressive Disease) with at least 20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions.