Translational Research

In order to make optimal use of limited available tissue in the EORTC 10994 trial (p53 study), the BCG created the TransTGIF group which is mainly involved in the development of sub-studies using biological material collected in the context of this trial. The TransTGIF group has steering and executive committees that evaluate all the sub-study proposals. In one study a TMA construct (tissue microarray) including more than 1000 non-frozen samples was performed. The BCG has already published three papers on translational research that they have conducted and have identified a new sub-type of breast cancer (molecular apocrine). This provides the first evidence in breast cancer that a gene-signature can predict differential response between therapies, and further evidence that stromal gene expression patterns are predictive of chemotherapy resistance (Identification of molecular apocrine breast tumors by microarray analysis, Oncogene, 2005; Validation of gene signatures that predict the response of breast cancer to neoadjuvant chemotherapy: a sub study of the EORTC 10994/BIG00-1 clinical trial, Lancet Oncol, 2007; A stroma-related gene signature predicts resistance to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer, Nature Medicine, 2009). Reports on other projects performed by the TransTGIF group are in preparation.

In the EORTC 10041 trial (MINDACT), mandatory fresh tumor samples for microarray analysis are being stored for proteomic analysis. Representative paraffin tissue block samples have to be sent for central histopathology review and for the production of tissue microarrays; optional blood sample collection may be performed for genetics and proteomics and used for future research projects.