One of the biggest obstacles to effective breast cancer treatment and management is the amount of genetic variability between patients. The BCPC uses microarray technology* to look at the individual molecular characteristics of each patient's tumour. "Understanding differences in gene expression can help both patients and clinicians to decide what treatment would be most effective and appropriate with a personalised approach", said Dr. Koki.
Looking at the 'genetic signature' of a tumour can provide crucial information to contribute to the choice of first-line treatment. It can also avoid over-treatment or prolonged treatment with ineffective drugs and the associated side effects. The use of microarrays will be able to predict relapse or metastatic disease in patients treated by the current standard of care, therefore sparing selected patients from chemotherapy or closer monitoring and/or dose intensification in patients at high risk. The information provided by this new tool should lead to better management of breast cancer, improve the quality of patient life, as well as reduce the costs of treatment to health services.
"To our knowledge, the BCPC will be the first microarray diagnostic tool available to local pathology laboratories, thus bringing the technology closer to the patient", said Dr. Koki. Although a few similar diagnostic methods are already available, to date they have involved sen
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Contact: Mary Rice
mary.rice@blueprintpartners.be
49-40-3569-3625
Federation of European Cancer Societies
17-Mar-2004