Biomarkers May Predict Course of Breast Cancer

An analysis of two biomarkers has demonstrated that, apart from lymph node status, high levels of the markers were the strongest predictors of poor relapse-free survival and poor overall survival of women with breast cancer. The analysis was conducted by researchers at the University Hospital Rotterdam (The Netherlands) on behalf of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer-Receptor and Biomarker Group. The results were reported in the January 16, 2002, issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

The biomarkers, urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and its inhibitor ( PAI-1), have essential roles in tumor invasion and metastasis. High levels are associated with poor prognosis in breast cancer patients. After the researchers analyzed patient data from more than 8,000 primary breast cancer tumors, they concluded that for patients with lymph-node-negative breast cancer, measurements of the two markers in primary tumors may help doctors better understand the course of the disease and enable them to design individualized treatment strategies.