Breast cancer is the most common non-cutaneous cancer among women in the United States. This year about 252,710 women in the U.S. will be told by a doctor that they have breast cancer. Half of these people will be at least 62 years old. However, an estimated 3,327,552 women are living with female breast cancer in the United States following treatment.
Germline (inherited) mutations in either the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene confer an increased risk of breast and/or ovarian cancer to women. In addition, women and men carrying BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations are at increased risk of developing other primary cancers. Genetic testing is available at the MGH genetics lab to detect mutations in members of high-risk families. Such individuals should also be referred for genetic counseling to obtain more information about the implications of inherited BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. Innovative treatments are available for patients with inherited BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations at the MGH Cancer Center. There is also a large portfolio of clinical trials testing the newest treatments at the MGH Cancer Center.
Despite significant improvements in the treatment of breast tumors, new therapies and treatment strategies are needed to improve outcomes for breast cancer patients. There are a number of novel targeted therapies as well as new immuno-therapies being used that are tailored to individual patient mutations at the MGH Cancer Center.
Source: National Cancer Institute, 2017
Breast cancer is the most common non-cutaneous cancer among women in the United States. This year about 252,710 women in the U.S. will be told by a doctor that they have breast cancer. Half of these people will be at least 62 years old. However, an estimated 3,327,552 women are living with female breast cancer in the United States following treatment.
Germline (inherited) mutations in either the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene confer an increased risk of breast and/or ovarian cancer to women. In addition, women and men carrying BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations are at increased risk of developing other primary cancers. Genetic testing is available at the MGH genetics lab to detect mutations in members of high-risk families. Such individuals should also be referred for genetic counseling to obtain more information about the implications of inherited BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. Innovative treatments are available for patients with inherited BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations at the MGH Cancer Center. There is also a large portfolio of clinical trials testing the newest treatments at the MGH Cancer Center.
Despite significant improvements in the treatment of breast tumors, new therapies and treatment strategies are needed to improve outcomes for breast cancer patients. There are a number of novel targeted therapies as well as new immuno-therapies being used that are tailored to individual patient mutations at the MGH Cancer Center.
Source: National Cancer Institute, 2017
CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE INFORMATIONThe BRAF gene encodes a serine/threonine kinase that activates the growth-promoting MAP kinase signaling cascade. BRAF is commonly activated by somatic point mutations in human cancers, most frequently by mutations located within the kinase domain at amino acid positions G466, G469, L597 and V600.
In regards to treatment, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the BRAF inhibitor, vemurafenib, for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic melanoma patients harboring specifically the BRAF V600E mutation, as detected by an FDA-approved test. In addition, there are a growing number of targeted agents that are being evaluated for the treatment of various BRAF-mutant advanced cancers, including other RAF kinase inhibitors and/or MEK inhibitors. Recently, the combination of the BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib with the MEK inhibitor trametinib was approved by FDA for the treatment of patients with BRAF V600E or V600K mutations.
Tumor mutation profiling performed clinically at the MGH Cancer Center has identified the highest incidence of BRAF mutations in thyroid cancer (30-40%), melanoma (20-30%) and colon cancer (10-15%).
To read more about the various BRAF based trials ongoing at the MGH Cancer Center, click on the "disease-gene-mutation" tab on the web page, and select relevant information. Current trials will appear as a ist under the posted information.
Source: Genetics Home Reference
The BRAF gene encodes a serine/threonine kinase that activates the growth-promoting MAP kinase signaling cascade. BRAF is commonly activated by somatic point mutations in human cancers, most frequently by mutations located within the kinase domain at amino acid positions G466, G469, L597 and V600.
In regards to treatment, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the BRAF inhibitor, vemurafenib, for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic melanoma patients harboring specifically the BRAF V600E mutation, as detected by an FDA-approved test. In addition, there are a growing number of targeted agents that are being evaluated for the treatment of various BRAF-mutant advanced cancers, including other RAF kinase inhibitors and/or MEK inhibitors. Recently, the combination of the BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib with the MEK inhibitor trametinib was approved by FDA for the treatment of patients with BRAF V600E or V600K mutations.
Tumor mutation profiling performed clinically at the MGH Cancer Center has identified the highest incidence of BRAF mutations in thyroid cancer (30-40%), melanoma (20-30%) and colon cancer (10-15%).
To read more about the various BRAF based trials ongoing at the MGH Cancer Center, click on the "disease-gene-mutation" tab on the web page, and select relevant information. Current trials will appear as a ist under the posted information.
Source: Genetics Home Reference
PubMed ID's
12068308,
15947100,
20401974,
20425073,
21606968The BRAF V600M mutation arises from a single nucleotide change (c.1798G>A) and results in an amino acid substitution of the valine (V) at position 600 by a methionine (M).
The BRAF V600M mutation arises from a single nucleotide change (c.1798G>A) and results in an amino acid substitution of the valine (V) at position 600 by a methionine (M).
BRAF mutations are rare in breast cancer. The prognostic and therapeutic significance of BRAF mutations in breast tumors are currently being evaluated. Clinical trials evaluating BRAF and MEK inhibitors, either as a single-agent or in combinations, are currently recruiting patients across cancer types, including breast cancer patients.
BRAF mutations are rare in breast cancer. The prognostic and therapeutic significance of BRAF mutations in breast tumors are currently being evaluated. Clinical trials evaluating BRAF and MEK inhibitors, either as a single-agent or in combinations, are currently recruiting patients across cancer types, including breast cancer patients.
PubMed ID's
20818844