Abstract B26: Identification of genes that predict response to paclitaxel in breast cancer using an in vivo genome-wide knockdown screen

Treatment decisions for breast cancer are based upon stage, tumor grade and hormone receptor status, and can include surgical resection, hormone receptor antagonists, radiation, and chemotherapy (e.g. paclitaxel). Breast cancer treatment success depends upon avoidance of chemotherapy resistance (i.e. achieving complete response) and prevention of both over- and under-treatment. Increased understanding of the genes which cause resistance and sensitivity to currently used drugs would lead to development of more effective therapeutic strategies that are specifically tailored to patient groups based on molecular profiling of their tumors (i.e. personalized medicine). Being able to identify the genes which when expressed in a tumor predict sensitivity or resistance to treatment prior to administration of paclitaxel would improve treatment efficacy and patient survival. We performed an in vivo shRNA genome-wide screen with MDA-MB-231 tumors treated with paclitaxel for the purpose of identifying genes which determine breast cancer response to paclitaxel. Completion of 6 replicates of the in vivo screen identified 26 putative paclitaxel sensitivity genes and 14 putative paclitaxel resistance genes (e.g. BCL6) for breast cancer. Screen-identified putative paclitaxel resistance were verified by individual knockdown clone generation and comparison of their sensitivity to paclitaxel-induced decreased cell proliferation, cell-cycle arrest, and apoptosis to a shRNA scramble control clone. ...
Source: Molecular Cancer Research - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Tags: Targeted Therapies: Poster Presentations - Proffered Abstracts Source Type: research