Biomarkers found for chemotherapy resistance in breast cancer

Researchers at the University of Hull have identified biomarkers which could help to predict resistance to chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. Potential biomarkers associated with resistance to chemotherapy drugs include epirubicin and docetaxel. Two high-throughput processes to screen clinical samples of breast tumor tissue were used. Using antibodies, 38 proteins that were twice as prevalent in samples from patients resistant to chemotherapy than those who were successfully treated were identified. The second method used mass spectrometry and identified 57 potential biomarkers of which five belong to the 14-3-3 protein family.