Identifying Genes That Can Predict if Breast Cancer Drug Is Working

Cancer

Identifying Genes That Can Predict if Breast Cancer Drug Is Working

By
Dana Sparks

December 4, 2012

Adding the drug trastuzumab to chemotherapy prevents cancer recurrence and improves survival in a majority of women with early stage HER2-positive breast cancer. But trastuzumab does not stop tumors from returning in about 25 percent of patients — and oncologists haven’t been able to identify these women before treatment. This situation may soon change, according to a Mayo Clinic study being presented this week at the 2012 CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

EMBARGOED news release: Dr. Perez

Sound bites with Edith Perez, M.D., are available in the downloads below

Expert title for broadcast cg: Dr. Edith Perez, Mayo Clinic Oncologist