Genetic Testing May Improve Chemotherapy for Aggressive Form of Breast Cancer
A study conducted found that an aggressive form of breast cancer , especially when the patient has BRCA mutations, responds well to non-standard chemotherapy. New research suggests that chemotherapy can be improved and personalized with genetic testing for breast cancer. Patients who have triple-negative breast cancer do not respond to the target drug Herceptin or hormone therapies. Therefore they are treated with a chemotherapy agent known as docetaxel. New trial findings indicate that patients with defective versions of BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 are likely to be treated with a different chemo drug known as carboplatin. The results of the finding may change the international guidelines by introducing the genetic testing for triple-negative breast cancer in women. • The trial suggests that most women with triple negative breast cancer can now be considered for testing for BRCA gene faults to enable those who test positive to use carboplatin. • Using the test will greatly help in guidi