The aim of this study was to establish anthracycline-resistant breast cancer cell lines to (1) identify pathways driving resistance that are common to all breast cancers, regardless of their oestrogen receptor (ER) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status; (2) discover a predictive biomarker of anthracycline benefit; and (3) investigate alternative treatment options for patient groups that are not expected to respond to anthracycline regimens. The gene discussed is ERBB2; the disease is breast cancer.