Researchers discover new factor predicting breast cancer recurrence

Researchers at the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center have discovered that genes and other factors can predict whether women are at risk for breast cancer recurrence, opening up new research possibilities to prevent the development of new tumors

The findings will be published today (April 22, 2022) in the journal Scientific Reports

The researchers focused on mammary epithelial cells, the layer of cells that form the ducts and lobes that produce milk during lactation

Despite advances in surgical techniques, the presence of undetectable tiny tumor fragments is a factor in up to 15% of women with breast cancer recurrence, sometimes years after surgery; recurrence of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer patients Highest risk

When analyzing epithelial cells from women who had received chemotherapy before surgery, the researchers found significantly altered RNAs

"When a person is diagnosed with breast cancer, we have several tools, including testing for genes such as BRCA1/2, to decide whether they should receive a specific type of chemotherapy or only hormone therapy

The researchers also noted that this also makes sense for women without breast cancer, as some RNA changes are associated with the formation of breast stem cells

This research effort was greatly aided by the conditionally reprogrammed cell (CRC) technology invented and patented by Georgetown University

"A lot of cancer survivors say to me, 'Please do a job that benefits my daughter