a commentary published today by Max Wicha ** you love to read over and over
Several recent studies, including that of Magnifico and
coworkers (1) in this issue of Clinical Cancer Research , suggest that the remarkable clinical efficacy of trastuzumab may relate to its ability to target breast cancer stem cells. These studies have important clinical implications for patient selection as well as for the development of new therapeutic strategies to target the cancer stem cell population. The HER2 gene is amplified in approximately 20% of human breast cancers in which it is associated with aggressive disease and early development of metastasis (2). One of the greatest advancements in the treatment of breast cancer has been the development of trastuzumab to target HER2-positive disease. When added to chemotherapy, trastuzumab significantly increases both disease-free survival as well as overall survival in women with metastatic breast cancer. The clinical utility of trastuzumab has been even more remarkable in the adjuvant setting. The addition of trastuzumab to cytotoxic chemotherapy has reduced the recurrence rate by ~50% in women whose breast cancers display HER2 amplification. Furthermore, the natural history of HER2-amplified breast cancer as well as the flattening survival curves suggest that a considerable proportion of these patients may be cured of their disease. Although it is clear that HER2 plays an important role in breast tumori- genesis, the molecular mechanisms which account for the clinical benefit of HER2 inhibition remain unknown. *Max Wicha is one of the major proponents of the breast cancer stem cell theory, head of Oncology at the University of Michigan and has been stubborn in his quest to find ways to kill these slowly growing "roots" of the weed which he believes responsible for cancer's recurrence and spread the article he is commenting on involves her2, stem cells and notch signalling--somewhat technical but very promising |
moving this up again--want to make sure you don't miss it:
the most important sentence of what I posted above:
Furthermore, the natural history of HER2-amplified breast cancer as well as the flattening survival curves suggest that a considerable proportion of these patients may be cured of their disease. |
Wow Lani - this is amazing. I love that word "cured."
Thanks for posting this. all the best caya |
Perhaps this should be on the front page for reading daily! Surely makes one smile! ma
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Dr. Max Wicha is an awesome man. He is my doctor at U-M and he so easy to talk to, and makes you feel so positive. I'm so blessed to have him in my life!
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That sounds great!! I am hopeful that it proves true for a long time!
Lexi |
Thanks Lani, best news I've heard all day. I hope he's right!
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