Studies from University of Duisburg-Essen update current data on breast cancer prognosis
2007 NOV 19 -- Scientists discuss in 'The AA genotype of the regulatory BCL2 promoter polymorphism ( 938C>A) is associated with a favorable outcome in lymph node negative invasive breast cancer patients' new findings in breast cancer. "Expression of the antiapoptotic and antiproliferative protein Bcl-2 has been repeatedly shown to be associated with better clinical outcome in breast cancer. We recently showed a novel regulatory (-938C >A) single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the inhibitory P2 BCL2 gene promoter generating significantly different BCL2 promoter activities Paraffin-embedded neoplastic and nonneoplastic tissues from 274 patients (161 still alive after a follow-up period of at least 80 months) with primary unilateral invasive breast carcinoma were investigated," scientists writing in the journal Clinical Cancer Research report. "Bcl-2 expression of tumor cells was shown by immunohistochemistry; nonneoplastic tissues were used for genotyping. Both the Bcl-2 expression and the (-938C >A) genotypes were correlated with the patients' survival Kaplan-Meier curves revealed a significant association of the AA genotype with increased survival (p=0.030) in lymph node-negative breast cancer patients, whereas no genotype effect could be observed in lymph node-positive cases. Ten-year survival rates were 88.6% for the AA genotype, 78.4% for the AC genotype, and 65.8% for the CC genotype. Multivariable Cox regression identified the BCL2 (-938CC) genotype as an independent prognostic factor for cancer-related death in lymph node-negative breast carcinoma patients (hazard ratio, 3.59; p=0.032). Immunohistochemical Bcl-2 expression was significantly associated with the clinical outcome of lymph node-positive but not of lymph node-negative breast cancer patients," wrote H.S. Bachmann and colleagues, University of Duisburg-Essen. The researchers concluded: "In lymph node-negative cases, the (-938C >A) SNP was both significantly related with the immunohistochemically determined level of Bcl-2 expression (p=0.044) and the survival of patients with Bcl-2-expressing carcinomas (p=0.006) These results suggest the (-938C >A) polymorphism as a survival prognosticator as well as indicator of a high-risk group within patients with lymph node-negative breast cancer." Bachmann and colleagues published their study in Clinical Cancer Research (The AA genotype of the regulatory BCL2 promoter polymorphism ( 938C>A) is associated with a favorable outcome in lymph node negative invasive breast cancer patients. Clinical Cancer Research, 2007;13(19):5790-7). Additional information can be obtained by contacting H.S. Bachmann, University of Duisburg-Essen, Institute of Pharmacogenetics, Germany. The publisher of the journal Clinical Cancer Research can be contacted at: American Association Cancer Research, 615 Chestnut St., 17TH Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19106-4404, USA. Keywords: Germany, Breast Cancer Prognosis, Breast Cancer, Breast Carcinoma, Cancer Research, Oncology, Women's Health. This article was prepared by Clinical Oncology Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Clinical Oncology Week via NewsRx.com.
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