F
C U S
O N
R E S E A R C H
Baylor, TGen & US Oncology study on
triple-negative breast cancer most cited
in American Association for Cancer
Research journal
Joyce O’Shaughnessy, M.D., Celebrating Women Chair of strong interest the oncology community has in understanding the
Breast Cancer Research at Baylor University Medical Center at molecular basis of metastatic TNBC, and in the hypothesis that
Dallas, served as co-lead author for the most cited study in 2013 targeting specific mutations in patients’ TNBCs will improve
by the American Association for Cancer Research’s (AACR) jour- patients’ outcomes,” said Dr. O’Shaughnessy.
nal Molecular Cancer Therapeutics.
Metastatic TNBC has a poor prognosis with a median survival
In the study, genomic sequencing of 14 metastatic triple-nega- rate among metastatic patients of only one year. While TNBC
tive breast cancer (TNBC) patients – spelling out the billions of accounts for only about 15 percent of all breast cancers, its more
pieces of genetic information in an individual patient’s DNA – aggressive biology makes it responsible for nearly one in four deaths
revealed therapeutic drug targets for this difrelated to this disease.
ficult-to-treat form of the disease.
“This study continues to stand as a great examBaylor Dallas, Translational Genomics
ple of molecular medicine in practice. The results
Research Institute (TGen) and US Oncology
have provided novel and interesting clues into
Research investigators worked collaboratively
breast cancer biology and into the promise and
and found significant recurring mutations
challenges of precision medicine,” said John
and other changes in more than a dozen genes
Carpten, Ph.D., TGen’s deputy director of Basic
in patients treated at Baylor Dallas. In addiScience, director of TGen’s Integrated Cancer
tion, the investigators identified mutations
Genomics Division, and the study’s senior
previously unseen in metastatic TNBC and
author.
took the sequencing data into account in
In addition to the gene sequencing trial, Baylor
selection of therapeutic protocols specific to
is currently involved in several research studies
each patient’s genetic profile.
to determine better ways to diagnose and treat
“The nature of this disease cried out for
breast cancer through more personalized therainnovative research techniques, such as whole
pies for patients. One of these is a pilot study,
genome sequencing, coupled with new tools
which currently has 10 patients enrolled and was
for data analysis,” said David Craig, Ph.D., Dr. Joyce O’Shaughnessy, Dr. John
developed by Dr. O’Shaughnessy to test the effiTGen’s deputy director of bioinformatics, the Carpten and Dr. David Craig
cacy of a vaccine on TNBC.
study’s other co-lead author.
Philanthropic support of innovative cancer
Targeted therapeutic intervention aimed at altered pathways research is crucial to continue developing these advanced treatments.
achieved antitumor responses in several cases.
“The fact that this study has been cited more often than any For more information on research initiatives at Baylor, contact Sarah
other in Molecular Cancer Therapeutics in 2013 is a testament to Burdi at 214.820.4721 or [email protected].
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