Dormancy Signatures and Metastasis in ER+ and ER- BC

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Anonymous
Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
edited June 2014 in Clinical Trials, Research News, Podcasts, and Study Results

'Recurrence may occur after long periods of time during which there are no clinical symptoms. Tumor cell dormancy may explain these prolonged periods of asymptomatic residual disease and treatment resistance. We generated a dormancy gene signature from published experimental models and applied it to both breast cancer cell line expression data as well as four published clinical studies of primary breast cancers

In this report, we test whether the currently available gene expression signatures for dormancy from experimental models that reflect quiescence and angiogenesis regulation could be used to evaluate breast cancer outcome. We find that the dormancy signature is indeed correlated with clinical parameters"

http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0035569

Eventually, a test will be available to measure low dormancy scores (LDS) / high dormancy scores (HDS).  Would you want to know whether you will recur or not ? I don't think I would... 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2012

    Prognostication and Prediction for ER-Positive Breast Cancer - A breakdown of tests available in 2012

    http://www.clinicaloncology.com/ViewArticle.aspx?d=Solid%2BTumors&d_id=148&i=April+2012&i_id=836&a_id=20679

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2012

    Blood Test In Early Stage Breast Cancer May Predict Recurrence And Survival

    "Writing about their findings in an early online issue of The Lancet Oncology, researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center note that, thanks partly to research they had done before, we already know the presence of CTCs in the blood correlates with a poor prognosis once breast cancer has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic breast cancer).

    Now their latest study, one of the first and largest of its kind, shows CTCs may have a similar predictive value in the early stages of the disease.

    Many patients who have treatment for early stage breast cancer that has not spread, have the tumor and lymph nodes surgically removed and then undergo chemotherapy and radiotherapy to remove all traces of the disease.

    But, around two years later, a peak time for recurrence, says first author Anthony Lucci, professor in MD Anderson's Department of Surgical Oncology, around one third of these patients will experience a return of the cancer in another part of the body"

    http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/246256.php

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  • leggo
    leggo Member Posts: 3,293
    edited August 2012

    Certainly explains why some of us, me included, are allowed many cancer-free years between our initial diagnosis and metastatic disease, and why others only get a year or two.

    And to answer your question about wanting to know.....No, I wouldn't. Looking back, I'm sorry I ever went to the Dr. in the first place. I would have much rather lived in oblivion. The diagnosis took way too much from me then and it continues to do so now. I would have been much happier to not have known, gone on with my life until I simply couldn't go on anymore. Hindsight certainly is 20/20.

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited August 2012

    Fascinating research on tumor cell dormancy, Ruby.  Thanks for posting it!    Deanna

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2012

    You're welcome Dlb

    Gracie, thank you so much for sharing.  I believe you're absolutely right.  My gut instinct tells me no, you don't want to know whatever it is that stats, opinions or anything else are cooking up.

    When I saw the new research on the CTC blood test above, I leaned toward asking the onco at my next visit.  I'm two years out and at a critical junction from what I read.  But after reading your post, I've changed my mind.

    I thank you so much for the wisdom little sister, be well 

    Hoping that many more women contribute their thoughts to this thread 

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  • leggo
    leggo Member Posts: 3,293
    edited August 2012

    Now I'm worried I changed your mind. Having said that, I should add why I feel that way. Through research, they come up with a million reasons why bc is what it is, but never a way to treat the specific problem. I don't want to be responsible for changing someone's mind, especially if they're the "want to know everything" type. That's just not me....if you can't change my situation, I don't care about the stats/opinions/studies. In this study in particulary...knowing doesn't really change what's going to happen, other than screwing with your emotions.

    I know you'll make the right decision for what's best for you. Take care.

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  • cp418
    cp418 Member Posts: 7,079
    edited August 2012

    Gracie - firstly sending you a big hug.  I totally agree with you.  Unless all this research and their publications can help the patient to pursue an 'effective' treatment such as a vaccine to prevent mets - - what good is knowing....... 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2012

    Oh no Gracie don't feel that way please, that's not what I meant. I meant to say that I'm reverting back to my gut feeling of not wanting to know the answer to the morbid question 'Will I recur or not' that this test is attempting to answer.  Yet, it doesn't answer the 'what' 'how' 'when' 'where'.  I can't even imagine the mental torture this would bring on should the test be pos, and to begin with I'd have a fight on my hands trying to convince my onco to do the test; he always says no to everything 

    Hugs little sister 

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  • bevin
    bevin Member Posts: 1,902
    edited August 2012

    I read that study the other day too on the CTC test. I'm one of those that 'like to know everything" . I'm much better in dealing with facts than the unknown.  I don't think I'd ask my Onco about it, but it offered, I'd say yes.

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  • Heidihill
    Heidihill Member Posts: 5,476
    edited August 2012

    I asked my onc and he said yes. Ugh. I find out tomorrow what the results are. It is more information for prognostic purposes. Since there have been no studies done with Stage IV, it's still a wild guess, but IMHO better than nothing given that I'm NED. At least that's the way I've rationalized it. I do hope that the lab will be able to get info on ER and HER2 status as well. I do believe somewhere in the world they can tell me this should the CTC be positive. It would be good to get evidence earlier for anything that might call for a change in treatment.

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