Genes associated with aggressive breast cancer
Researchers at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, have for the first time identified 12 genes that could be associated with aggressive breast tumours. The discovery could result in more reliable prognoses and better treatment strategies for patients [1].
The results, published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research, are based on analyses of breast tumours from 97 female breast cancer patients. Half of these patients died within eight years of diagnosis, while the remainder survived for more than eight years.
Breast tumours consist of a heterogeneous mix of tumour cells which are markedly different in terms of their genes (DNA) and biological properties. The researchers used microarray techniques to study the overall picture of the tumours by measuring the amount of DNA and gene products (RNA) in each tumour. This enabled them to investigate the relationship between genetic changes and clinical parameters such as tumour properties and response to treatment.
Read the whole article at ecancer.org
Reference
- Parris TZ, Danielsson A, et al. Clinical implications of gene dosage and gene expression patterns in diploid breast carcinoma. Clinical Cancer Research 2010; 16(15):3860-3874. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-10-0889.
Keywords: genetics, breast cancer
18. 8. 2010 ecancer.org
