Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women worldwide. In Germany, every 8th woman is diagnosed with breast cancer. Until now, therapies have been based on the presence/absence of (hormone) receptors or the Her2 receptor in metastatic/non-metastatic breast cancer.
Fig. 1: adapted from Jackisch Chr, Wild PJ Molecular tumor diagnostics in breast cancer, Hessisches Ärzteblatt - 2023
This classification was expanded in the ESMO Expert Consensus Statements (ECS) 2023 to include the status "Her2 low":
Abb. 2 geändert nach Denkert, C. et al. Neue Therapiemöglichkeiten beim metastasierten HER2-low-Mammakarzinom. Pathologie 43, 457–466 (2022).
Recent studies have shown that HER2-low positive tumors may respond to certain therapies traditionally developed for HER2-positive tumors. For example, some clinical trials show that antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) such as trastuzumab deruxtecan can be effective in HER2-low patients. These therapies aim to target and destroy tumor cells. Some studies suggest that HER2-low positive tumors may have a better prognosis than HER2-positive tumors, but worse than HER2-negative tumors.
Another biomarker has become increasingly important in recent years in relation to the treatment of triplenegative breast cancer (Denkert C et al. Pathologie2022·43: 457–466 ; Vetter M, Swiss Academy of Multidisciplinary Oncology 2022):
TRPS-1 (Tryptophan-Rich Basic Protein 1) is a transcription factor that plays a role in various biological processes, including cell proliferation and differentiation. The benefit of TRPS-1 in breast cancer lies in several aspects:
Biomarker for prognosis: studies have shown that TRPS-1 can serve as a prognostic marker for breast carcinoma. Increased expression of TRPS-1 has been associated with more aggressive tumor forms and a poorer prognosis. This enables early identification of patients who may require more intensive treatment strategies.
Regulation of tumorigenesis: TRPS-1 plays a role in the regulation of genes involved in tumorigenesis. It can influence the expression of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes which can lead to modulation of tumor growth and metastasis. A better understanding of these mechanisms could open up new therapeutic approaches to combat breast cancer.
Therapeutic targets: due to its role in tumor biology, TRPS-1 may represent a potential target for new therapeutic interventions. Approaches aimed at modulating the function of TRPS-1 could help to inhibit tumor growth and improve the efficacy of existing therapies.
Personalized medicine: the study of TRPS-1 could contribute to the development of personalized treatment strategies. By analyzing TRPS-1 expression in tumors, physicians could better predict which patients will respond to certain therapies and which may require alternative treatment approaches.
Overall, research on TRPS-1 in breast cancer shows promising approaches that could improve both the prognosis and treatment of patients with this disease. However, further studies are needed to understand the exact mechanisms and the full potential of TRPS-1 in oncology.
You can find CE/IVD certified antibodies for your breast cancer diagnostics at Zytomed Systems HERE .
Further topics
New NGS-Assay for HRD determination
The AmoyDx® HRD Complete Panel is an advanced development of the AmoyDx® HRD Focus Panel, which is already established in many laboratories for determining homologous recombination deficiency (HRD).
News about the IVDR
The IVDR, in force since May 26, 2022, represents a turning point in the EU-wide harmonization of patient safety. At the same time, it places high demands on us as manufacturers and on you as a user of in vitro diagnostic medical devices to implement the new regulation. We would like to meet this challenge together with you for the benefit of your patients. It is important to us to certify our portfolio of diagnostic solutions in compliance with the IVDR in due time. Therefore, we would like to keep you informed about our progress with the implementation of the IVDR.
