Intra-tumor heterogeneity in breast cancer has limited impact on transcriptomic-based molecular profiling.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Transcriptomic profiling of breast tumors provides opportunity for subtyping and molecular-based patient stratification. In diagnostic applications the specimen profiled should be representative of the expression profile of the whole tumor and ideally capture properties of the most aggressive part of the tumor. However, breast cancers commonly exhibit intra-tumor heterogeneity at molecular, genomic and in phenotypic level, which can arise during tumor evolution. Currently it is not established to what extent a random sampling approach may influence molecular breast cancer diagnostics.

Methods

In this study we applied RNA-sequencing to quantify gene expression in 43 pieces (2-5 pieces per tumor) from 12 breast tumors (Cohort 1). We determined molecular subtype and

SUBMITTER: Karthik GM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5708109 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature