MicroRNAs can help predict disease recurrence in breast cancer patients

Researchers at the University of Galway have identified biomarkers called microRNAs that could help predict which breast cancer patients are likely to face disease recurrence and death
.

Researchers led by Dr Matthew Davey, Professor Michael Kerin and Dr Nicola Miller from the university's School of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences conducted a multicentre trial in Ireland involving 124 patients
undergoing chemotherapy.

They include:

• MiRNAs can serve as a biomarker to predict which patients are likely to face breast cancer recurrence and death
  .
  

• The researchers conducted a multicentre trial in Ireland, taking 5 different time points from blood samples from 124 breast cancer patients and evaluating their results
  nearly 9 years later.
  

• The researchers say their findings on the predictive value of miR-145 could help doctors better tailor treatment to the needs of each patient undergoing breast cancer treatment
  .
  

According to Ireland's National Cancer Registry, more than 3500 women are diagnosed with breast cancer
each year.
While the long-term prognosis for patients with breast cancer (the most common cancer in women) improves, 20 to 30 percent of them will relapse
.

Dr Davey said: "The process of identifying which patients are more likely to relapse has been a challenge
.
So we set out to determine whether miRNAs—small, noncoding molecules that regulate gene expression and influence cancer development—can predict which patients are more likely to relapse and die from breast cancer
.

"We found that patients with increased expression of a specific type of miRNA called miR-145 were less likely to have breast cancer
recurrence.

"We show that increased expression of this biomarker, measured in patients' blood samples during chemotherapy, actually predicts their long-term tumor outcomes
.
" We can predict who is likely to relapse and who will not
.
The clinical application of this biomarker is being further investigated
.

"This study could also help identify breast cancer patients who could benefit
from closer monitoring and additional treatment after surgery or treatment.
"

The study was prompted by Ireland's
National Breast Cancer Institute and Cancer Trials.