Expression Based Markers for Breast Cancer Detection

描述（由申请人提供）：在生物标志物开发实验室的更新申请中，研究人员建议使用精心收集，策划和注释的标本库来批判性地评估和比较一系列测定和铅标记物，以确定是否可以开发临床有用的工具来增强乳房x光检查和超声检测乳腺癌。研究人员认为，只有考虑到当前最佳实践中固有的问题，并提供解决这些问题的新算法，才能提高乳腺癌的早期检测。鉴于该疾病的异质性、其不确定的生物学进展、其高患病率以及目前检测方法的多样性，本小组认为，任何一种方法都不太可能在改进或取代当前的筛查和诊断实践方面被证明是可靠有效的。因此，本提案旨在对一系列分子方法进行批判性比较，这些方法在某些组合应用时将显著增强临床相关乳腺疾病的早期检测。这项研究将建立并纳入一项单独资助的NIH研究的数据，该研究旨在改善乳腺癌的放射学筛查。分子标记将与临床和人口统计数据相结合，建立一个全面的乳腺癌预测模型。该提案结合了杜克大学、雅培实验室、东弗吉尼亚医学院和匹兹堡大学医学中心的专业知识和资源。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): In this renewal application for a Biomarker Development Laboratory, the investigators propose to use a carefully collected, curated and annotated bank of specimens to critically evaluate and compare a series of assays and lead markers to determine whether a clinically useful tool can be developed to augment mammography and ultrasound for the detection of breast cancer. The investigators believe early detection of breast cancer can only be improved by considering the problems inherent in the current best practice and supplying novel algorithms for solving these problems. Given the heterogeneity of the disease, its uncertain biologic progression, its high prevalence, and the variety of ways in which it is currently detected, our group considers it unlikely that any single approach will prove to be reliably effective in either improving upon or replacing current screening and diagnostic practices. Therefore, this proposal seeks to critically compare a series of molecular approaches that when applied in some combination will yield significant enhancement in the early detection of clinically relevant breast disease. The study will build upon and incorporate data from a separately funded NIH study that seeks to improve radiologic screening for breast cancer. Molecular markers will be incorporated with clinical and demographic data to build a comprehensive model for breast cancer prediction. This proposal combines the expertise and resources of Duke, Abbott Laboratories, Eastern Virginia Medical School, and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.