Researchers at the Mayo Clinic have made a significant discovery related to the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer, a challenging and aggressive form of breast cancer.
In a multi-omics study published in Breast Cancer Research, they have identified a distinct pattern in 17 genes that may be associated with achieving remission after treatment.
This discovery has the potential to pave the way for personalized medicine approaches in the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer.
Understanding Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Triple-negative breast cancer accounts for approximately 10-15% of all breast cancers.
It is termed “triple-negative” because it does not rely on the hormone receptors estrogen or progesterone, nor on the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) for its growth.
Unlike other types of breast cancer that have these receptors, which can be targeted with specific therapies, triple-negative breast cancer often necessitates chemotherapy as the primary treatment option.
However, it is known for its resistance to targeted therapies, and nearly 20% of patients experience recurrence after initial treatment.
The Significance of the Gene Pattern
The study aimed to identify genetic markers associated with relapse-free survival in patients with triple-negative breast cancer who did not respond to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
Using multi-omics analysis and machine learning technologies, the researchers analyzed changes in gene expression to understand the molecular mechanisms behind tumor recurrence.
Multi-omics involves studying various biological components, such as genomics, proteomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics, to gain a comprehensive understanding of biological processes.
The research team identified a unique signature consisting of 17 genes linked to relapse-free survival. Many of these genes were found to be involved in initiating inflammation to trigger an immune system response.
According to lead author Dr. Krishna Rani Kalari, failure to initiate an immune response prevents the clearance of weakened tumor cells, allowing treatment resistance to develop and the disease to recur.
This study is an extension of the Mayo Clinic’s ongoing clinical prospective breast cancer study, the Breast Cancer Genome-Guided Therapy Study (BEAUTY).
The primary objective of BEAUTY is to uncover why certain patients’ tumors respond to chemotherapy while others do not.
This knowledge serves as the foundation for developing personalized medicine therapies tailored to individual patient needs.
Future Research
The research team’s next steps involve further investigation of the gene signature they have identified and conducting tests to explore therapeutic strategies based on this signature.
This work has the potential to transform the treatment landscape for triple-negative breast cancer, offering more effective and individualized approaches to combating this challenging disease.
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The research findings can be found in Breast Cancer Research.
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