article, cancerpage.com

[Bev]

Gene Expression Superior to Histology for Breast Cancer Prognosis





NEW YORK FEB 27, 2006 (Reuters Health) - Gene expression profile appears to be much more accurate than tissue grade in making a prognosis in women with histology grade 2 breast cancers, researchers report in the February 15th issue of the Journal of the National Institute of Cancer.

Dr. Christos Sotiriou and colleagues at the Jules Bordet Institute in Brussels, Belgium, collected data from 189 invasive breast carcinomas, using three gene expression datasets to assess whether histologic grade was associated with gene expression profile.

The researchers identified 64 estrogen receptor-positive tumor samples. They then devised a gene expression grade index by comparing gene expression profiles of histologic grades 1 and 3 tumors with the gene expression datasets.

Using the index, Dr. Sotiriou's team assessed data from 597 independent tumors to evaluate relapse-free survival time. They identified 97 genes that were associated with histologic grade. Most were involved in cell cycle regulation and proliferation.

Gene expression profiling was strongly associated with histologic grades 1 and 3 status, but histologic grade 2 tumors "spanned the values" of the index. For those patients, "a high gene expression index was associated with a higher risk of recurrence than a low gene expression index," carrying a hazard ratio of 3.61.

The authors conclude that "relapse-free survival was more strongly associated with gene expression grade than histology grade." In addition, the gene expression index "appears to reclassify patients with histology grade 2 tumors into two groups, with high versus low risk of recurrence."

Interesting post. Thank you.

This argument has been rattling around for a while particularly in respect of assessment of treatment options / riks over treatment.

Important for all sufferers, but particularly the young and fertile, where the life style balances carry a much higher price.

RB