Breast Cancer 3 Flashcards
What is HER2?
A growth factor receptor
Other name for HER2?
ERBB2
What type of receptor is HER2?
RTK
What happens when a ligand binds to an RTK?
dimerization and activation
Overall result of extra HER2?
extra proliferation
What does HER2 activate proliferation via?
PI3Kinase
Role of BRCA1?
Activated after DNA damage is detected, leading to BRCA2 activation
Role of BRCA2?
Its activation allows binding and activation of RAD51
Role of RAD51?
Recombinase–> repairs DNA by homology directed repair
Why do BRCA1 and 2 mutations preferentially lead to breast and ovarian cancers?
Not known
Diagnosis of BC?
Mammography screening
Most high risk BC group?
50-70 years
Mammography screening?
Breast placed onto the screen and plastic plate is lowered to flatten it
ABove and sie x rays are taken
Why is mammography less likely to find tumours in younger women?
They have more dense breast tissue
What happens if the mammography screen detects a lesion?
Breast biopsy–> looks for benign or malignant
What can biomarkers be?
Prognostic predict clinical outcome
Predictive predict how a patient will respond to specific therapy
Which biomarkers are assessed for BC?
Oestrogen receptor
Progesterone receptor
HER2
What is a progostic biomarker?
One that can predict the clinical outcome
What is a predictive biomarker?
Predicts how a patient will respond to a specific therapy
What kind of biomarkers are oestrogen and progesterone?
Weak prognostic and strong predictive
What kind of biomarker is HER2?
both a strong prognostic and predictive biomarker
Treatment of early breast cancer without metastases?
Surgery to remove tumours
What can be useful for chemo descosions?
Gene Expression Signature (GES) panels also used to identify molecular mechanisms.
Treatment of ER / PR positive breast cancer?
Endocrine therapy (e.g. tamoxifen binds to oestrogen receptor)
