This is a real-world medical entrance exam question, please give the true answer based on the question and selection. Topic name: None, Subject name: Pathology
HER2/neu receptor plays a role in 
Select and explain. 
A. Predicting therapeutic response, B. Diagnosis of breast cancer, C. Screening of breast cancer, D. Recurrence of tumor
A: Predicting therapeutic response
Answer: A: Predicting therapeutic response 
Explanation: Friends, direct quote from Robbins….’HER2/neu overexpression is associated with poorer survival but its main importance is as a predictor of response to agents that target this transmembrane protein (examples trastuzumab or lapatinib).’
• The overexpression is due to amplification of the gene HER2/neu located on 17q21. Ackerman writes…. HER2/new encodes a transmembrane glycoprotein with tyrosine kinase activity and its overexpression is a good predictor of response to herceptin (trastuzumab) but not a good predictor of response to chemotherapy or overall survival.