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PTEN test...is "positive" enough?
As we have learned, Herceptin antitumor activity is dependent on the presence of PTEN to be effective. I've read that we also need to test how much PTEN is in the breast tumor because no or low levels of PTEN don't respond well to herceptin.
The results of my PTEN testing showed "positive" but that is all it said. No percentiles or degrees were given. The test was done at the Targeted Molecular Diagnostics lab in Westmont, IL.
I'm wondering, then, how important is it to know how much PTEN is in the tumor? And could I get that information from the same testing that was done on the tissue, or would we need to re-test?
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Blessings and Peace,
Barbara
DX Oct 02 @ age 52 Stage 2B Grade 3 Mastectomy
"at least" 4.5 cm IDC 1+node ER+61% /PR-
Assiciated Intraductual component with Comedo Necrosis
Her2+ FISH8.6 IHC 2+
5 1/2 CEF Arimidex
Celebrex 400mg daily for 13 months
Prophylactic mastectomy
Estradiol #: 13
PTEN positive, "late" Herceptin (26 months after chemo)
Oct 05: Actonel for osteopenia from Arimidex.
May 08: Replaced Actonel with Zometa . Taking every 6
months.
Accepting the gift of life, I give thanks for it and live it in fullness.
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