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Scientists have developed a gene test which predicts how well
chemotherapy will work in cancer patients.
Starting with 829 genes in breast cancer cells, the team whittled down
the possibilities to six genes which had an impact on whether a drug
worked.
They then showed that these genes could be used to predict the
effectiveness of a drug called paclitaxel in patients.
It is hoped the approach, reported in The Lancet Oncology, can be
replicated for other cancers and treatments.
The international project, including researchers from Cancer Research
UK’s London Research Institute, opens the way for breast cancer
treatment to be targeted to those who will benefit the most.
To find which genes, if missing or faulty, could prevent the drug from
working, they deleted them one by one from cancer cells in the
laboratory.
They eventually highlighted the six genes which if absent or not
working prevent paclitaxel from properly killing breast cancer cells.
More than 45,500 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK each
year – and it is estimated that around 15% of these women will be
prescribed paclitaxel.
The researchers estimate they could potentially spare half of the
patients currently receiving this drug from treatment which would not
be effective.
Study leader, Dr Charles Swanton, head of translational cancer
therapeutics at the Institute, said one of the great challenges in
cancer medicine is determining which patients will benefit from
particular cancer drugs, which are in themselves toxic and carry severe
side effects.
“Our research shows it is now possible to rapidly pinpoint genes which
prevent cancer cells from being destroyed by anti-cancer drugs and use
these same genes to predict which patients will benefit from specific
types of treatment.”
Further studies will now be done to see if the technique can be
developed into a simple diagnostic test to be given to patients to help
inform doctors about whether or not to prescribe paclitaxel.