To Ascertain Distinctive Gene Expression Patterns for the Prediction of Docetaxel (Taxotere Chemosensitivity or Chemoresistance in Human Breast Cancer
Abstract
Chemotherapy is of proven benefit in reducing the risk of death for a subset of patients with early breast cancer, but doctors have problems deciding exactly who should receive this therapy, and which therapy will be most effective for a given patient. As a result, some patients needlessly receive chemotherapy. Even in those patients who clearly require chemotherapy, doctors cannot identify those patients whose tumors might not be responsive to a particular chemotherapy drug. Chemotherapy is also associated with high costs and toxicity including nausea, vomiting, damage to nerves, etc. and increased risk of infections that are sometimes life threatening. The emerging cDNA array technology provides a means to comprehensively appreciate genetic variations in different breast tumors, and may be utilized as a test for chemotherapy sensitivity. Taxotere has one of the highest response rates in breast cancer, and is widely prescribed for the treatment of breast cancer. The aims of this study were therefore, to investigate and validate differential gene expression patterns from core biopsies from patients whose breast tumors either shrank after Taxotere chemotherapy, or failed to respond. We now have preliminary data that gene expression patterns may predict response and resistance to chemotherapy. These patterns need to be better refined, and validated in subsequent studies. If patterns of gene expression exist that can help better select appropriate therapies, this would enable better selection of appropriate treatments for women with breast cancer.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA430707
Entities
People
- Jenny Chang
Organizations
- Baylor College of Medicine