BLOOD PLASMA BIOMARKERS FOR BEVACIZUMAB COMBINATION THERAPIES FOR TREATMENT OF BREAST CANCER

摘要

The present invention provides methods for improving the treatment effect of a chemotherapy regimen of a patient suffering from HER2 positive breast cancer, in particular locally recurrent or metastatic HER2 positive breast cancer, by adding bevacizumab (Avastin®) to a chemotherapy regimen by determining the expression level, in particular the blood plasma expression level, of VEGFA and/or VEGFR2 relative to control levels of patients diagnosed with HER2 positive breast cancer, in particular locally recurrent or metastatic HER2 positive breast cancer. The present invention also provides for methods for assessing the sensitivity or responsiveness of a patient to bevacizumab (Avastin®) in combination with a chemotherapy regimen, by determining the expression level, in particular the blood plasma expression level, of VEGFA and/or VEGFR2 relative to control levels in patients diagnosed with HER2 positive breast cancer, in particular locally recurrent or metastatic HER2 positive breast cancer.

主权项

1. A method of determining whether a patient diagnosed with HER2 positive breast cancer is more or less suitably treated by an anti-cancer therapy comprising an anti-VEGF antibody, the method comprising:
(a) determining an expression level of VEGFA and/or VEGFR2 in a sample derived from a patient diagnosed with HER2 positive breast cancer, and (b) identifying the patient as more or less suitably treated by an anti-cancer therapy comprising an anti-VEGF antibody based on the expression level in accordance with (a), wherein an expression level of VEGFA and/or VEGFR2 at or above a reference level indicates that the patient is more suitably treated with the anti-cancer therapy, or an expression level of VEGFA and/or VEGFR2 below a reference level indicates that the patient is less suitably treated with the anti-cancer therapy.