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Biological marker found for one form of breast cancer

Researchers have identified a biological marker that could help identify basal epithelial breast cancer, a highly aggressive form of cancer, according to a Jan 14, 2007, news release from the American Association for Cancer Research. Basal epithelial breast tumors occur in 17% to 37% of all breast cancers and are more common in premenopausal, African American women than women in any other demographic group. These tumors have an early onset; a very short time to relapse after treatment; and are detected more often by mammogram than by other screenings, possibly because of their aggressive growth.

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Diagnosing this type of cancer has been difficult because the tumors lack important molecular targets such as estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, and HER2; this lack also eliminates important lines of traditional therapy such as tamoxifen and trastuzumab. Currently, physicians can only identify a basal epithelial breast tumor by ruling out other types of breast cancer.

In one study of breast tumors, the structural protein nestin was found in extremely high amounts in 14 of 16 tumor samples lacking the common receptors for breast cancer. Nestin could represent a biological marker for these tumors that would help identify patients with these tumors more quickly. Researchers believe that a next step will be to find an efficient means to detect nestin in the clinical setting.

Selective Marker Found to Indicate Aggressive Form of Breast Cancer [news release]. Philadelphia, Pa: American Association for Cancer Research; January 14, 2007.

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Biological marker found for one form of breast cancer

AORN Journal, June, 2007

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