Molecular Based Imaging Determination of Breast Cancer Prognosis
Abstract
Human breast cancer prognosis has traditionally been determined by the stage and grade of the primary tumor with lymph node involvement as the major determining factor. For even those with the best prognosis (small, 1 cm diameter-size lesions and no node involvement), there is not a satisfactory method to predict who is in need of additional therapy besides surgery. Of 10 patients who present with this profile, 6-7 will be cured by surgery and 3-4 of them will have progressive disease. We have evaluated two sets of breast cancer cases using protein expression for prognosis. In a pilot study (n=40), we evaluated expression of c-Met and HER2 in primary breast cancers and their lymph node metastases. Neither c-Met nor HER2 expression in primary tumors correlated with established prognostic factors such as age, lymph node involvement, ER, PR, tumor size, or grading. However, c- Met overexpression alone identified high-risk patients independent of HER2. Five-year DFS associated with c-Met overexpressing tumors was 17% compared to 55% in remaining patients (p=0.037; RR 3.0). These results identify c-Met as a target for therapeutic approaches, particularly in HER2 negative patients. We have expanded this to study a series of nearly 200 cases and the analysis of them is still ongoing. The imaging is complete and the correlations will be completed in early 2003.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA407431
Entities
People
- James H. Resau