Breast Cancer Metastasis: Prognosis and Monitoring of Metastatic Disease.
Abstract
Using biopsies of primary breast cancers taken at the time of surgical resection and blood of breast cancer patients, we are developing tests that will allow us to predict risk of breast cancer recurrence and follow each patient that has had breast cancer. Biopsy tissues obtained from primary tumors are being used to assess risk of metastasis, and patient blood samples will be used to monitor appearance f metastasis or response to therapy. The technical objectives are to: (1) Develop prognostic tests for breast cancer invasion and metastasis-associated degradative enzymes. In patients treated previously recurrence is associated with overexpression of three metastasis-associated enzymes. We are expanding these studies to include additional breast cancer patients, other malignancies and benign lesions. (2) Develop assays to monitor the appearance of metastatic disease in breast cancer patients by detecting the appearance of metastasis-associated degradative enzymes in blood. We found that blood enzyme activity correlates with the onset of breast metastasis and have been collecting blood samples to test this. (3) Develop assays to monitor the treatment of metastatic disease in breast cancer patients by following the levels of metastasis-associated degradative enzymes in blood. In patients with stage IV disease we found that response to therapy resulted in lowered blood levels of the metastasis-associated enzymes.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1995
- Accession Number
- ADA303187
Entities
People
- Garth L. Nicolson
Organizations
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center