Abstract: The application describes methods for predicting overall survival in subjects with breast cancer. The application also describes for screening subjects with breast cancer to determine if the breast cancer will be responsive to a breast cancer therapy including gemcitabine. The application further describes methods for treating subjects with breast cancer by screening them for the likelihood of the effectiveness of treating the cancer with a therapy including gemcitabine and administering the therapy in subjects when it is found that gemcitabine is likely to be effective.

Abstract: A first exemplary method for performing a prognosis for a breast cancer patient, comprises the steps of determining the status of an aberration of the TOP2A gene in a tissue sample taken from the patient; and estimating the probability of either recurrence-free survival or of overall survival of the patient at a later time based upon a pre determined Hazard Ratio corresponding to the determined status. A second such exemplary method comprises the steps of determining the status of an aberration of the TOP2A gene in a tissue sample taken from the patient; and estimating the probability of either recurrence-free survival or of overall survival of the patient at a later time based upon a pre-determined Kaplan-Meier plot corresponding to the determined status.