title: Emerging Role of Genomic Rearrangements in Breast Cancer: Applying Knowledge from Other Cancers.
abstract: Significant advances in our knowledge of cancer genomes are rapidly changing the way we think about tumor biology and the heterogeneity of cancer. Recent successes in genomically-guided treatment approaches accompanied by more sophisticated sequencing techniques have paved the way for deeper investigation into the landscape of genomic rearrangements in cancer. While considerable research on solid tumors has focused on point mutations that directly alter the coding sequence of key genes, far less is known about the role of somatic rearrangements. With many recurring alterations observed across tumor types, there is an obvious need for functional characterization of these genomic biomarkers in order to understand their relevance to tumor biology, therapy, and prognosis. As personalized therapy approaches are turning toward genomic alterations for answers, these biomarkers will become increasingly relevant to the practice of precision medicine. This review discusses the emerging role of genomic rearrangements in breast cancer, with a particular focus on fusion genes. In addition, it raises several key questions on the therapeutic value of such rearrangements and provides a framework to evaluate their significance as predictive and prognostic biomarkers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.; Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Bhavna S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Paratala
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Sonia C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Dolfi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Division of Medical Informatics, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khiabanian
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Lorna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Rodriguez
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Shridar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ganesan
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Kim M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Hirshfield
keywords: biomarkers; breast cancer; fusion genes; genomic instability; personalized therapy; rearrangements