Both objective response rates–seven out of 15 (47%) vs 12 out of 35 (34%, P=0.197)–and rates of clinical benefit–12 out of 15 (80%) vs 26 out of 47 (55%, P=0.129)–to trastuzumab-based treatment tended to be higher in patients with tumours exhibiting tyr1248-phosphorylated Her-2/neu as compared to those without pHer-2/neu expression. Here, ERBB2 is linked to neoplasm.