Importance of the KRAS-variant in early onset breast cancer shown in research study

New breakthrough study, published in Lancet Oncology, demonstrates association with triple-negative breast cancer

NEW HAVEN, CT (March 23, 2010) – Mira Dx™ today notes the publication of breakthrough research describing the KRAS-variant’s association with triple negative breast cancer in young women. Multivariate analysis found the KRAS-variant was associated with triple-negative breast cancer in premenopausal women, and gene expression analysis of triple-negative tumors found that KRAS-variant tumors have significantly altered gene expression.

“More than showing an association of the KRAS-variant with triple-negative breast cancer in premenopausal women, the study clearly shows a novel association of this inherited risk marker and tumor biology,” stated Joanne Weidhaas, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor at Yale and senior author on the paper “The study may provide insight into the association of the KRAS-variant with poor outcome in several other cancers.”

“This milestone publication adds to an extensive and growing body of evidence about the importance of the KRAS-variant as a genetic marker of disease risk, especially for women,” added Martin Verhoef, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mira Dx. “The KRAS-variant has been associated with women with ovarian cancer from families with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, and now with premenopausal women with triple-negative breast cancer. These findings perfectly corroborate one another, as both are part of the definition of this familial syndrome.”

Breast cancer affects more than 200,000 women per year in the US. Up to 15-20 percent of these women have triple-negative breast cancer, which is the most deadly subtype of breast cancer. Previously, triple-negative breast cancer had few known markers of risk.

The study, entitled “A 3’-untranslated region KRAS variant and triple negative breast cancer: a case-control and genetic analysis,” by Paranjape et. al. was published on March 23, 2011 online in Lancet Oncology.

About Mira Dx
Mira Dx is a genomics company founded on research discovered at Yale University and is dedicated to the development and commercialization of novel microRNA-based tests for risk assessment and companion diagnostics. The company’s goal is to provide information that can help clinicians better understand cancer in order to better serve their patients by facilitating earlier diagnosis, better management and ultimately higher cure rates. For more information, please visit www.MiraDx.com.
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