Researchers have found new genetic factors that indicate the risk of relapse in breast cancer, a major European conference is to be told.
The British researchers say these genes can sometimes be found in the breast cancer at the time of primary diagnosis.
But they may also develop later.
The research at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge, also revealed that some promising new breast cancer drugs could become harmful because of genetic changes in the cancer.
The study, involving genetic sequencing of tumours from a thousand women with the disease, is to be reported to the 2015 European Cancer Congress in Vienna, Austria, tomorrow.
The research involved 161 instances of samples taken from recurring tumours or metastatic disease.
The research also found that in some late stage cancers, JAK genes seemed to suppressing tumour activity – although in other instances the genes are known to aggravate cancer. JAK inhibitors are already in clinical trials for breast cancer.
Researcher Dr Lucy Yates called for further investigation of the role of JAK genes.
She said: “We have found that some of the genetic mutations that drive breast cancers that relapse are relatively uncommon amongst cancers that do not relapse at the point of primary diagnosis.
"We believe that the differences we have seen reflect genetic differences that can predispose a cancer to return, combined with mutations acquired throughout the period from first diagnosis to the subsequent relapse.
"Some of these genetic alterations are potentially targetable with drugs."
She added: "In general, the observation highlights the importance of understanding the diverse nature of breast cancers in the era of precision medicine.”
The work was praised by senior cancer specialists at the conference.
Conference scientific co-chair Professor Peter Naredi said: “Information such as that which Dr Yates will present is very important in the era of precision medicine.
"Not only can we better choose the right treatment combination as our information about the primary tumour increases, and hence prevent over-treating patients who will not benefit, but this will also help us select the right therapy for each breast cancer patient.
"This study also underlines the fact that we should consider a recurrence of a cancer as a new event, and carefully select the right treatment for the recurrent tumour as opposed to just relying on information from the first occurrence.”
Abstract no 1804. The driver landscape of breast cancer metastasis and relapse.
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