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Annals of Surgical Oncology
Published in: Annals of Surgical Oncology 5/2010

01-05-2010 | Breast Oncology

Topoisomerase 2 Alpha and the Case for Individualized Breast Cancer Therapy

Authors: Ronan W. Glynn, MBCHB, Nicola Miller, PhD, Maria C. Whelan, MD, Michael J. Kerin, MD

Published in: Annals of Surgical Oncology | Issue 5/2010

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Abstract

Background

Many patients with breast cancer receive no benefit from their treatment. This has led to a search for novel therapeutic targets whose identification may facilitate a more tailored approach, thereby avoiding unnecessary toxicity. Of these, topoisomerase 2 alpha (TOP2A), located at the HER2/neu amplicon on chromosome 17, has generated particular interest because its expression has been shown to correlate with response to anthracycline-based therapies.

Methods

We evaluated the relationship between TOP2A and its collocated gene, HER2/neu, and summarized the evidence for and against confining anthracycline-based therapies to those patients who demonstrate increased expression or amplification of these targets.

Results

The emerging consensus supports the restriction of anthracyclines to those patients who are HER2/neu positive, with the evidence suggesting that alterations in the status of TOP2A are almost completely restricted to this group of patients.

Conclusions

It seems increasingly likely that response to anthracyclines is predicated on these alterations.
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Metadata
Title
Topoisomerase 2 Alpha and the Case for Individualized Breast Cancer Therapy
Authors
Ronan W. Glynn, MBCHB
Nicola Miller, PhD
Maria C. Whelan, MD
Michael J. Kerin, MD
Publication date
01-05-2010
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Annals of Surgical Oncology / Issue 5/2010
Print ISSN: 1068-9265
Electronic ISSN: 1534-4681
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-009-0855-0

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