Breast cancer that we usually known actually not one type of disease. There are total 10 different types of Breast Cancer. This categorization can improve the effectiveness of treatment by delivering medication according to the type of breast cancer, also predict survival of patients more accurately.
The study that was published at journal Nature, compared each breast cancer type in the world today. According to the researchers, the tests in hospitals currently is more than enough to categorize which breast cancer the patient have. These findings provide more detailed mapping of breast cancer, making it possible to find certain types of treatment to the disease.
"Breast cancer is not just one type of disease, but rather consists of 10 different types of diseases. Our findings will pave the way for future doctors to diagnose breast cancer types that woman have, what drugs are efficacious or not, and therapies that are more effective and not, "said study leader, Prof. Carlos Caldas as reported by BBC, Friday (04/20/2012).
Currently, breast cancer can be classified based on the results of microscopic examination and tests of tumor markers. Cancers that have estrogen receptor will respond to hormone therapy tamoxifen, while those with Her2 receptor can be treated with Herceptin.
In the majority of breast cancer, more than 70% of cases respond to hormone therapy. However, the reaction is varied. According to prof Caldas, some treatments work well, while a few actually make it worse. Then other types of breast cancer requires a better classification.
Prof. Caldas studied frozen samples of breast cancer in 2,000 women in UK and Canada hospitals. He and his team look into the details of mutated tumor cells genetically. The study showed that normal cells turn into cancer in different ways and can be grouped into 10 categories. Researchers call it IntClust 1 through 10.
"This is the largest study to look into details genetics of breast tumors. These findings will change the way we look at breast cancer and have an enormous impact in diagnosing and treating breast cancer. This is a very important research," said Dr. Harpal Kumar, chief executive of Cancer Research UK which funded the research.
The researchers must prove that the grouping of 10 types of breast cancer is actually beneficial to the patient before it can be widely used by physicians. This process is expected to take 3-5 years.
The study that was published at journal Nature, compared each breast cancer type in the world today. According to the researchers, the tests in hospitals currently is more than enough to categorize which breast cancer the patient have. These findings provide more detailed mapping of breast cancer, making it possible to find certain types of treatment to the disease.
"Breast cancer is not just one type of disease, but rather consists of 10 different types of diseases. Our findings will pave the way for future doctors to diagnose breast cancer types that woman have, what drugs are efficacious or not, and therapies that are more effective and not, "said study leader, Prof. Carlos Caldas as reported by BBC, Friday (04/20/2012).
Currently, breast cancer can be classified based on the results of microscopic examination and tests of tumor markers. Cancers that have estrogen receptor will respond to hormone therapy tamoxifen, while those with Her2 receptor can be treated with Herceptin.
In the majority of breast cancer, more than 70% of cases respond to hormone therapy. However, the reaction is varied. According to prof Caldas, some treatments work well, while a few actually make it worse. Then other types of breast cancer requires a better classification.
Prof. Caldas studied frozen samples of breast cancer in 2,000 women in UK and Canada hospitals. He and his team look into the details of mutated tumor cells genetically. The study showed that normal cells turn into cancer in different ways and can be grouped into 10 categories. Researchers call it IntClust 1 through 10.
"This is the largest study to look into details genetics of breast tumors. These findings will change the way we look at breast cancer and have an enormous impact in diagnosing and treating breast cancer. This is a very important research," said Dr. Harpal Kumar, chief executive of Cancer Research UK which funded the research.
The researchers must prove that the grouping of 10 types of breast cancer is actually beneficial to the patient before it can be widely used by physicians. This process is expected to take 3-5 years.
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