Study Shows HOXB13/IL17BR Ratio Predicts Clinical Outcome in Breast Cancer
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AviaraDx, Inc. has announced the publication of an independent two-site 357 patient study in the April 23, 2007 issue of Breast Cancer Research Treatment entitled: "Exploring the two-gene ratio in breast cancer-independent roles of HOXB13 and IL17BR in the prediction of clinical outcome" by Piiha-Lotta Jerevall & Olle Stal, Division of Oncology, Department of Biomedicine and Surgery, Linkoping University, Linkoping, Sweden and Sara Brommesson & Marten Ferno, Department of Oncology, Clinical Sciences, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden and their respective co-authors.
The investigators examined the expression of HOXB13 and the H/I™ ratio in biopsy material of a previously conducted prospective trial, in which postmenopausal early stage breast cancer patients were randomized to either two or five years of endocrine therapy.
The investigators show ER-positive patients with a high H/I™ ratio did not benefit from extended endocrine therapy. Conversely, in patients with a low H/I™ ratio a significantly longer period of disease-free survival was observed under extended endocrine therapy. The results were statistically significant in multivariate analysis, after adjusting for known prognostic and predictive factors, such as tumor size, nodal status, and PR.
The investigators conclude the H/I™ ratio and HOXB13 alone can predict clinical benefit of endocrine therapy. Specifically, high HOXB13 gene expression and/or a high H/I™ ratio within the tumor indicates reduced likelihood to respond.
Furthermore the authors concluded the H/I™ ratio could be used to identify patients resistant to endocrine therapy and therefore may need different adjuvant treatment.
"This controlled study is the fourth validation of the H/I™ ratio and more importantly the second publication from independent clinical researchers validating the clinical utility of the H/I™ ratio. We are pleased to see the growing evidence supporting the clinical use of the H/I™ ratio as both a prognostic and predictive tool to aid in treatment decisions, said Antonius Schuh, Chief Executive Officer of AviaraDx.
