Gene-expression analysis and the basal-like breast cancer subtype.
Analysis of the patterns of gene expression in breast cancer suggests that it is not a single entity, but is comprised of several biologically distinct subtypes with characteristic molecular profiles. These molecular profiles confirm the clinical impression that estrogen receptor (ER)-negative differs from ER-positive, and expands our understanding by identifying breast cancer subtypes, including the basal-like and human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)2/ER subtypes within the ER-negative subset, and the luminal A and B subtypes within ER-positive disease. The basal-like subtype is characterized by the low expression levels of the ER-related and the HER2-related group of genes, and therefore is often 'triple negative' on clinical assays for these proteins. This review discusses the molecular profiles of breast cancer with a focus on the clinical characteristics of, and treatment options for, the basal-like subtype.
Finnegan
Timothy J
TJ
The University of North Carolina, Division of Hematology/Oncology, CB#7305, 3009 Old Clinic Building, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. tfinnega@unch.unc.edu
Carey
Lisa A
LA
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D012008:Recurrence
D009363:Neoplasm Proteins