31 January 2002

Cancer: Towards personalized therapy

A microarray gene expression profiling trial in 117 young breast cancer patients has identified a 'poor prognosis signature' consisting of genes involved in regulation of cell cycle, invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis. Used in conjunction with recently introduced consensus guidelines on treatment regimens the expression profile of the primary tumour should make it possible to identify patients needing extra adjuvant treatment, and to reduce dosage and hence side effects in those predicted to respond well to standard treatment.

Gene expression profiling predicts clinical outcome of breast cancer
LAURA J. VAN 'T VEER, HONGYUE DAI, MARC J. VAN DE VIJVER, YUDONG D. HE, AUGUSTINUS A. M. HART, MAO MAO, HANS L. PETERSE, KARIN VAN DER KOOY, MATTHEW J. MARTON, ANKE T. WITTEVEEN, GEORGE J. SCHREIBER, RON M. KERKHOVEN, CHRIS ROBERTS, PETER S. LINSLEY, REN� BERNARDS & STEPHEN H. FRIEND
Nature 415, 530–536 (31 January 2002)
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Cancer: The molecular outlook
CARLOS CALDAS & SAMUEL A. J. APARICIO
Many breast-cancer patients receive unnecessary treatment for possible tumour spread after the removal of a primary tumour. Molecular profiling should offer more accurate predictions of who needs such treatment.
Nature 415, 484–485 (31 January 2002)
| Full Text | PDF (52 K) |