Accession Number:

ADA278882

Title:

Role of Bone Marrow Micrometastases in Breast Cancer

Descriptive Note:

Midterm rept. 20 Oct 1992-30 Sep 1993

Corporate Author:

MADIGAN ARMY MEDICAL CENTER JOINT BASE LEWIS MCCHORD WA

Personal Author(s):

• Bertram, Kenneth A.

Report Date:

1993-10-22

Pagination or Media Count:

16.0

Abstract:

Although most women with breast cancer present with local disease, 30-40 of these women will develop advanced disease. Several tumor characteristics have been suggested to be predictive of disease recurrence, among them the presence of micrometastatic deposits of breast cancer cells in the patients bone marrow. The purpose of this research project is to determine if adjuvant hormonal therapy or chemotherapy can alter this risk factor, that is, will standard adjuvant therapy eliminate these metastatic tumor cells. Additionally, this project is seeking to determine if a patient in whom these cells are not eliminated has a greater risk of tumor recurrence than the patient in whom the micrometastatic cells are eliminated. To accomplish this project bone marrow aspirates are being screened for micrometastases using highly sensitive immunological techniques prior to the initiation of and after completion of adjuvant therapy. The patients course disease free an overall survival will then be followed for at least five years. Six patients are currently enrolled but it is too early to have any post-therapy results. This project is also exploring the effect of therapy on marrow micrometastases in patients with advanced disease in a similar manner. Breast cancer, Metastases, Bone marrow.

Descriptors:

• *BONE MARROW
• *CANCER
• *DISEASES
• *PATIENTS
• BONES
• CELLS
• CHEMOTHERAPY
• DEPOSITS
• IMMUNITY
• MAMMARY GLANDS
• NEOPLASMS
• RISK
• STANDARDS
• THERAPY
• WOMEN

Subject Categories:

• Anatomy and Physiology
• Medicine and Medical Research

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE