HER2 + Stem Cells Found in HER2 Neg breat Cancer

cp418

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121214191514.htm

The HER2 Paradox: HER2-Positive Stem Cells Found in HER2-Negative Breast Cancer

cp418

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121207085545.htm

Existing Drugs May Help More Breast Cancer Patients

wallycat

Fascinating!  So if you were told you were Her2 value 0, should you second guess it?  Are they thinking her2 +1 is more fitting for this??

So many questions....

cp418

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/254159.php

Surprising Discovery About Stem Cells Reveals How A Common Breast Cancer Evades Treatment

A new study reveals a surprising paradox about stem cells in breast cancer: one whose discovery may explain how a common breast cancer evades treatment, and improve diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

wallycat

I wonder if anyone would listen if we asked our tissue to be retested.....

voraciousreader

I read this study several times...it was posted under a few threads.  Because I am HER +1, it picked my interest.  Someone might want to elaborate futher or correct me, but my impression from reading the article is that they identified markers that might make the HER 2 more likely to be aggressive, whereas before, if you were HER 2 +1 or 0,there was NO thought that there was a "switch" that turned on these cells making them more aggressive.  From what I gathered, it wasn't all of the HER 2 cells that were affected.  I think the important message from this research is that they are beginning to identify more markers, making it easier to indentify those cells more likely to become aggressive.  From a diagnostic standpoint, this is great news, but it doesn't conclude that all HER 2 negative tumors need to be treated with Herceptin.  Instead, they can identify those HER negative tumors that might behave more aggressively and those patients would then be offered Herceptin.  Nonetheless, this is great news. 

voraciousreader

Forgot to mention...There's also a clinical trial underway to determine if patients who are "low" HER 2 positive can benefit from Herceptin.  So together, this research and the clinical trial should give us encouragement....

http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/featured/trials/NSABP-B-47

wallycat

Yes, that is how I interpretted the information....a certain set of markers makes them treatable with herceptin.

This is also the case in the luminal A and B issue...certain markers....

forgive my impatience for wanting a cure/guarantee now

Heidihill

http://journals.lww.com/oncology-times/blog/FRESHSCIENCEforClinicians/pages/post.aspx?PostID=44

I posted this link in a Stage IV thread. Luminal tumors seem to be susceptible to targeting with Herceptin, but not basal ones. Also interesting:

Dr. Wicha said they now have evidence that RANK ligand induces HER2 expression in
the cancer cells in the bone microenvironment and that the cells become
sensitive to both trastuzumab and the RANK ligand inhibitor denosumab.

gpawelski

Stem cells are the body's mechanics, repairing damaged tissues and organs. Because these cells are able to grow into any type of cell in the body, scientists believe they hold the key to groundbreaking new therapies. To help further this research, scientists from the University of Victoria have found a new way to culturecells in 3D - a significant step forward for regenerative medicine. 

"Cells in your body grow and divide in a 3D environment, especially when you think of stem cells, which differentiate to become all the different types of cells in your body," said paper-author Dr. Stephanie Willerth. "Yet, a lot of work is still being done in a 2D environment." 

Essentially, since your body is three-dimensional, it makes sense that stem cells do their best repair work in 3D as well. By growing these cells in 3D, researchers are better able to see how these cells behave in conditions that more closely resemble those in the body. 

Though Dr. Willerth's lab specifically looks at repairing the spinal cord, she believes growing stem cells in 3D will be important for researchers in other fields as well, so she chose to publish her research in the Journal of Visualized Experiments. 

"As the study of stem cells advances, it is necessary to create a culture system that more accurately represents the one cells grow in naturally," said JoVE Associate Editor, Meghan Berryman.

The Journal of Visualized Experiments

http://cancerfocus.org/forum/showthread.php?t=3153

marie77

Does this mean all ER+ HER2 neg BC survivors should have their biopsies retested for CD 44 and DC 24 markers

and if found positive go on Herceptin

gpawelski

Even if you tested for CD24 and CD44, there can be a myriad of signaling pathways. The simple inhibition at one node in a cascade of signaling pathways will absolutely change the dynamic and redirect up and down stream signals that ultimately overcome inhibition. They are forever trying to develop strategies to control these resistance mechanisms, however, we find that simple genomic analyses underestimate the complexity of human systems.

The themes that emanated at the recent American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) meeting included a renewed focus on the biochemistry of metabolism, a clear progress in the field of tumor immunology and the growing recognition that human tumors exist as microenvironments and not isolated single cells. The cross-talk between receptors can be abrogated and upstream/downstream signaling can be squelched in many ways.

More focus should be on human tumor aggregates (microspheroids) isolated directly from patients as the most accurate model for chemotherapy selection. The capacity to study human tumor microenvironments enables discovery work on the most sophisticated classes of compounds that influence cell signaling at all levels.

ihatesnowihatesnow

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-04-leukemia-dreaded-stem-cells.html

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-01-japanese-team-cancer-specific-killer-cells.html