Seriously thought provoking as to sampling methods for BC testing.
The fact that surgery itself is changing the gene profile (reflecting inititiation of the emergency body response and repair process) has lots of implications - for testing - ordering of treatments - impact on treatment etc.
There has been previous dicussion on this site as to whether surgery itself impacts on BC risks by upgrading the COX 2 inflamatory responses etc.
RB
ABSTRACT
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4800935.stm
New breast cancer test 'reliable'
Medics examining a mammogram
Mammography can help detect breast cancers
A new type of breast cancer test that could ultimately save some women from unnecessary chemotherapy is reliable, Swiss scientists say...............
............Far less invasive
The Swiss study also suggests it might be better to obtain the breast tissue for gene analysis using core needle biopsy rather than surgically cutting out a piece of the breast.
Not only is core needle biopsy far less invasive, the authors say it appears to give a better indication of the gene patterns present in the cancer.
In the study, the needle biopsy procedure seemed to trigger the expression of genes involved in wound healing as well as tumour invasion and spread.
This meant that any subsequent surgical samples taken had a modified gene expression profile.
This is important for doctors to appreciate when they are making assessments about the aggressiveness of a cancer and treatment requirements and outcomes, say the researchers.
In the latest study, involving 22 women with breast cancer, the expression of four specific genes known to be involved in breast cancer development was significantly increased in surgical samples compared to earlier core needle biopsy samples.
In comparison, expression of the four genes was not increased in surgical samples taken from 317 women who did not get a core needle biopsy.
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