BC type changes based on treatment

Fallleaves

Maybe treatment impacts BC phenotype more than we think.

Two studies that indicate treatment can cause hormone receptors and HER2+ expression to change, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. The first also says the supplement sulforaphane may be effective in blocking cell proliferation in triple negative BC. (That study is from the University of Michigan, where they have done a lot of research on sulforaphane).

Trastuzumab resistance induces EMT to transform HER2⁺ PTEN⁻ to a triple negative breast cancer that requires unique treatment options

"Furthermore, these transformed trastuzumab resistant cells exhibit increased BCSC populations and rate of metastasis."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC462913...

Impact of Molecular Subtype Conversion of Breast Cancers after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy on Clinical Outcome

"HR+/HER2– tumors tended to convert into triple negative (TN) tumors (10.3%), whereas 34.6% of TN tumors gained HR positivity to become HR+/HER2– tumors. Clinical outcomes of molecular subtype conversion groups were compared against patients who remained as HR+/HER2– throughout. The HR+/HER2– to TN group had significantly poorer recurrence-free survival (RFS) (hazard ratio, 3.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.60 to 7.85) and overall survival (OS) (hazard ratio, 3.73; 95% CI, 1.34 to 10.38). Patients who remained TN throughout had the worst outcomes (for RFS: hazard ratio, 3.70; 95% CI, 1.86 to 7.36; for OS: hazard ratio, 5.85; 95% CI, 2.53 to 13.51), while those who converted from TN to HR+/HER2–showed improved comparable survival outcomes."

http://e-crt.org/journal/view.php?doi=10.4143/crt.2014.262

JohnSmith

In terms of Sulforaphane, for those that don't like big words, Sulforaphane is a compound obtained from cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts or cabbages, reinforcing the notion in nutritional circles, that diet may improve outcome.
Sulforaphane reminds me of a thread from last year discussing the "Broccoli pill" called "Sulforadex" that UK-based Evgen Pharma was developing, which I wrote about here.
A quick peak at clinicaltrials.gov indicates they are launching a non-cancer related trial later this year: "SFX01 After Subarachnoid Haemorrhage (SAS)" (i.e. Bleeding in the space between the brain and the tissue covering the brain.)
I'll fire off an email to determine the status of future breast cancer trials. The Evgen website indicates a cancer trial, here, but nothing listed yet on clinicaltrials.gov

Fallleaves

JohnSmith, I saw a trial for broccoli sprout extract, that tests the effects of usage for two weeks before BC surgery on various biomarkers. It's being done by the NCI and Roswell Park Cancer Institute. Unfortunately it doesn't end until Aug. 2017.

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT01753...

cp418

http://www.scmp.com/tech/science-research/article/...

Another broccoli related article I saw today.