New test can identify patients who may suffer serious late toxicity from ra...( This is because apoptosis is the physio...),Health

This is because apoptosis is the physiological cell-death of normal tissues. If a 'normal' cell sees the damage done to its DNA, it can either repair its DNA or die, and be replaced with a new fresh cell; therefore, the tissue itself will not suffer damage later on. However, if a cell does not see the damage to its DNA, as occurs in sensitive patients, it will not be replaced and, therefore, the tissue will suffer from a late reaction because a number of cells inside this tissue will not function properly."

He continued: "To our knowledge, this is the first rapid predictive test based on lymphocyte apoptosis confirmed prospectively in a large number of patients. It can predict significantly the differences in radiation-induced late toxicity between patients, and could be used as a rapid screen for genetically hypersensitive patients. It is ready to be used in the clinical setting now, and, as both CD4 and CD8 showed similar results, we need test for CD8 only.

"Furthermore, the test could be used to stratify patients in future dose escalation trials. We intend to use it for stratification in Phase III trials, and as a factor for exclusion in Phase I and II trials. A retrospective finding of our study was that patients with breast cancer who received tamoxifen during radiotherapy showed an increased proportion of subcutaneous fibrosis (tissue scarring) compared to those who did not have tamoxifen or who had it later. Now, a new multi-centre Phase III study will compare tamoxifen versus an aromatase inhibitor in breast cancer in terms of fibrosis, using our test as a stratification factor."

'"/>

Contact: Margaret Willson
m.willson@mwcommunications.org.uk
45-3252-4163
Federation of European Cancer Societies
22-Sep-2003

Page: 1 2
Related medicine news :

1. Study shows promise in identifying kidney failure
2. Chemists identify immune system mechanism for methamphetamine binges
3. Forensic dentistry key in identifying victims of tsunamis, other disasters
4. Radiography used to identify teens with sleep apnea
5. Simple question from your doctor can help identify your risk for breast cancer
6. Auditory test to help identify learning impaired
7. Mayo Clinic researchers identify new form of muscular dystrophy in adults
8. Scientists identify brain regions that decide where we look
9. Researchers identify the link between heart failure and weight loss
10. Scientists identify protein critical to melanoma growth
11. McGill researchers identify new way to reduce cholesterol levels