Gene profiles change in breast cancer

http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ECC/53...

"Primary breast cancer and subsequent relapses may differ substantially in genetic makeup, suggesting a need for ongoing tumor sampling and genetic profiling to guide decision making, a British researcher said here.

Comparison of gene signatures in primary tumors and relapses revealed enrichment of 11 genes in the specimens from relapse as compared with the primaries. Some of the mutations occurred as late events, suggesting they might have been drivers of relapse and metastasis, according to a report at the European Cancer Congress.".....

......"Most of all, these data highlight differences between primary and relapse samples, and, therefore, re-sampling throughout the disease is advisable."