A multigene RT-PCR assay used to predict recurrence in early breast cancer: two presentations with contradictory results.
During the 2003 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium two studies were presented that were designed to validate a recurrence score, derived from a 21-gene RT-PCR assay, in patients with axillary node-negative breast cancer. This recurrence score was highly predictive for the risk of recurrence in 668 patients treated in a large multicenter trial with adjuvant tamoxifen. However, no prognostic value was found in a small group of patients who were retrospectively selected in a single institution and who did not receive any adjuvant systemic therapy. Further validation is needed to establish the prognostic and predictive role of this assay in clinical management.
Department of Medical Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands. W.E.Fiets@lumc.nl
Willem E
WE
Fiets
Johan W R
JW
Nortier
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000235:genetics*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*