[Jean]

Hi Micheleu,
Love your new photo!
The TOPO2a is a different test. TOPO 2a is a gene we all carry,
if it is positive then the patient will have a significantly improved
response to A/C chemo. If you are negative the A/C will be of little
benefit. Most patients have not been tested for this as it was not available and was extreme cutting edge at the time.

The PTEN 13 marker applies to Herceptin. MD Anderson was doing the research on this. I had called and spoke with the research dr. who
was working on this and the research was halted do to funding.
She had hoped that another grant would be offered and their
work would resume. Most have not been tested for this like TOPO2a
especially since there was only herceptin at the time. Now we have
Tykerb.

Currently there is no testing to determine if herceptin will work.
The PTEN has not been confirmed yet and there is no data out
on this. I certainly hope the research at MD Anderson will
resume or at the very least be studied in another lab.

Best Regards,
Jean