Editorial
Copyright ©2011 Baishideng Publishing Group Co.
World J Clin Oncol. Sep 10, 2011; 2(9): 329-338
Published online Sep 10, 2011. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v2.i9.329
Table 1 Categories of breast cancer and associated DNA lesions; breast cancer classification schemes, common DNA damage detected, and current clinical treatments1
Breast cancer classificationScreening tests on biopsy sampleCurrent treatmentsExpected outcomes
Hormone receptor positiveImmunohistochemistry, confirmed by CGHMostly SERM or SERD which may slow tumor growth. Drugs include: tamoxifen, raloxifene and fulvestrantHigh survival rate if responsive to chemotherapy
TNBCImmunohistochemistrySurgery, radiation and chemotherapies which inhibit mitosis such as cisplatinInitially sensitive to traditional chemotherapies and radiation therapy, but high recurrence rate thus poor survival rate[6,71,72]
HER-2 Over-expressionImmunohistochemistry, confirmed by CGH or FISHHER-2 agonists such as trastuzamab or lapatinib and sometimes doxorubicinAlthough this is a fast growing cancer if responsive to therapy HER2 agonists can half the rate of recurrence[5,73]
Luminal type A or BImmunohistochemistry and micro-array or tissue arrayAs described above depending upon hormone receptor and growth factor receptor expression5-year recurrence rate is lower and survival rate higher than for basal-like breast cancers[71,72]
BLBCImmunohistochemistry and micro-array or tissue arraySimilar to TNBC5-year recurrence rate higher and survival rate lower than for luminal breast cancer types[71,72]
Table 2 Summary of DNA lesion type, repair mechanism and gene products
Repair mechanismDNA lesion typeGenes or gene families involved in repair
NERDistortions of DNA double helix or bulky adductsXeroderma pigmentosum related genes (XPA, XPC and others) and Cockayne’s syndrome related genes (ERCC6 and others)
BERSmall, non-helix-distorting nucleotide base lesions or single strand breaksAP endonucleases, DNA glycosylases
MMRIncorrectly paired nucleotides, insertions and deletion loopsMSH2, MLH1
HRSSB and DSBBRCA1/2, BRIT1, BLM
NHEJChromosomal breaks, also to create genetic diversity for immune cellsKu70, Ku80, DNA-PKcs, XRCC4