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IGF-1R may be therapeutic target for some patients with triple-negative breast cancers

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4th AACR International Conference on Molecular Diagnostics in Cancer Therapeutic Development

Insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor was overexpressed and associated with longer survival in some patients with triple-negative breast cancer.

These findings may help provide more targeted therapy for patients with triple-negative breast cancers, one of the hardest subtypes to treat, according to the researchers.

Because of the biology of triple-negative breast cancers, wherein they have tested negative for ERs, PRs and HER-2, they do not respond to endocrine therapies or trastuzumab.

“In other subsets of breast cancer, you can use these drugs with some success. However, triple-negative breast cancers currently lack therapeutic targets and are managed with conventional chemotherapy,” Agnieszka K. Witkiewicz, MD, an associate professor of pathology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, said in a press release.

Witkiewicz presented data from this clinical trial at a press conference at the Fourth American Association for Cancer Research International Conference on Molecular Diagnostics in Cancer Therapeutic Development in Denver.

The researchers analyzed data from 97 women with triple-negative breast cancer.

Insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) was overexpressed in 29% of patients. Overexpression of the receptor was associated with gene amplification (P<.001).

High expression demonstrated borderline association with smaller tumor size (P=.08). In patients aged younger than 55 years, overexpression was correlated with longer survival (HR=0.13; 95% CI, 0.02-1.00). Low expression of IGF-1R was associated with greater risk for lymph node metastasis (P=.033).

According to Witkiewicz, because IGF-1R blockade has shown success in early clinical trials for sarcomas, colorectal and pancreatic adenocarcinomas, IGF-1R may be a potential target in this breast cancer subtype.

“For now, we know that it is there and we know it is a marker of better prognosis,” Witkiewicz said in the release. “The next step is to learn if triple-negative breast cancer patients benefit from targeting IGF-1R.”

For more information:

• Kline J. Abstract #A29. Presented at: Fourth American Association for Cancer Research International Conference on Molecular Diagnostics in Cancer Therapeutic Development; Sept. 27-30, 2010; Denver.

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