BRCA2 Expression as a Predictor of Response to Radiation Therapy
Abstract
Women with germline mutations in BRCA2 have a high likelihood of developing breast cancer. The loss of BRCA2 heterozygosity, observed in 20-67% of sporadic cases of breast cancer (non-inherited cases), suggests that BRCA2 plays a role in these tumors. The authors suggest that, in some cases of sporadic breast cancer, the level of BRCA2 expression might be an important determinant of the malignant phenotype. The major objective of this proposal is to test the hypothesis that BRCA2 expression is decreased in a significant subset of sporadic breast cancers, and that these tumors have a molecular pathogenesis related to that of hereditary breast cancers containing mutations in BRCA2. To test this hypothesis, they propose the following specific aims: (1) to develop assays for BRCA2 expression in fresh and archival tissue from sporadic breast cancers, (2) to determine whether BRCA2 expression is altered in sporadic breast cancer, and (3) to determine whether BRCA2 expression in tumors correlates with response to radiation and selected chemotherapeutic agents. Unfortunately, the authors were unable to develop BRCA2 antibodies of sufficient sensitivity and specificity to carry out the proposed research. To circumvent this problem, they are attempting to measure BRCA2 levels via mass spectroscopy.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA511674
Entities
People
- Roy A. Jensen
Organizations
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center