Tumor homologous recombination deficiency assays: another step closer to clinical application?
Inherited and acquired defects in homologous recombination, a phenotype termed 'BRCAness', may lend to therapeutic exploitation in breast cancer. To this end, development and clinical evaluation of platforms to identify signatures of BRCAness are of immense interest. In this issue of Breast Cancer Research, Vollebergh and colleagues report that a BRCA-like array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) genomic instability signature is associated with benefit from high-dose cyclophosphamide-thiotepa-carboplatin chemotherapy. We discuss the strengths and weaknesses of this study and consider the clinical significance and applicability of this aCGH BRCAness signature in the context of other existing homologous recombination deficiency detection platforms.
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, MS1016, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA. sstecklein@kumc.edu.
Shane R
SR
Stecklein
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, 2330 Shawnee Mission Parkway, MS5003, Westwood, KS, 66205, USA. psharma2@kumc.edu.
Priyanka
P
Sharma
D019313:BRCA1 Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D024682:BRCA2 Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D064726:Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
D019313:BRCA1 Protein; D024682:BRCA2 Protein; D016190:Carboplatin; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases