Duke Team Identifies Blood Biomarkers in Drug-Resistant Cancer Tumor Cells

Contact: Sarah Avery Phone: 919-660-1306 Email:sarah.avery@duke.eduhttps://www.dukehealth.orgFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016Duke Team Identifies Blood Biomarkers in Drug-Resistant Cancer Tumor Cells  DURHAM, N.C. -- While searching for  a non-invasive way to detect prostate cancer cells circulating in blood,Duke Cancer Instituteresearchers have identified some blood markers associated with tumor resistance to two common hormone therapies.In a study published online this month in the journalClinical Cancer Research, the Duke-led team reported that they isolated multiple key gene alterations in the circulating prostate tumor cells of patients who had developed resistance to abiraterone or enzalutamide.  Enzalutamide is a drug that blocks the male androgen receptor, and abiraterone is a drug that lowers testosterone levels. Both drugs are approved to treat hormone-resistant prostate cancer, but the tumors typically develop resistance within a few years.  The study, focusing on a small number of patients and using sophisticated blood analysis technology, demonstrated that circulating tumor cells detected in blood have the potential to reveal important genetic information that could guide treatments selection in the future, and suggest targets for new therapies.“We have developed a method that allows us to examine the whole genome of rare circulating cancer cells in the blood, which is unique in each patient, and which can change over time during treatment...
Source: DukeHealth.org: Duke Health Features - Category: Pediatrics Tags: Duke Medicine Source Type: news