title: Platinum sensitivity in a BRCA1 mutation carrier with advanced breast cancer.
abstract: Although BRCA1-associated breast carcinomas are frequently detected in nodal-negative stage, they typically present with an aggressive histopathological phenotype that is reflected by a poor prognosis and an increased risk for distant metastatic spread. Recent in vitro data suggest a high sensitivity of BRCA1-associated carcinomas to platinum-based chemotherapy and a lower sensitivity to anthracyclines and taxanes. This is explained by the key role of BRCA1 in DNA double-strand repair via homologous recombination, thereby leading to a higher sensitivity to DNA intercalating agents, such as platinum. Here we present the case of a woman suffering from BRCA1-associated metastatic breast carcinoma that was resistant to docetaxel, but responded strongly to cisplatin-containing chemotherapy. This supports the rationale of ongoing clinical studies.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Cologne and Centre for Integrated Oncology, University Hospital of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rhiem
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wappenschmidt
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bosse
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Köppler
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Tutt
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Schmutzler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D019398:Genes, BRCA1; D018095:Germ-Line Mutation; D006801:Humans; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds