The Breast Cancer Genome-Guided Therapy (BEAUTY) study is designed to help researchers better understand why standard chemotherapy eradicates breast cancer in some women but fails in others. The long-term goal is to enable individualized treatment for each woman with breast cancer by using the genetic information found in blood samples and tumor biopsies to predict the most effective therapies.

 Dr. Judy Boughey and Dr. Matthew Goetz  joined the Medical Edge radio program (now called Mayo Radio) last September of 2012 to discuss the BEAUTY Project. You can listen to the full program after the break.

Click here for the Mayo Radio Full Show audio

BEAUTY combines three components of cancer care and research:

• Chemotherapy before surgery (neoadjuvant therapy). Treating the tumor with chemotherapy prior to surgery allows the patient and physician to evaluate the response of the tumor to the chemotherapy delivered. The response information guides further management decisions. This is considered a standard of care for most breast cancers in which the oncologist would recommend chemotherapy.
• Genomic sequencing. Genomics tools analyze blood cells and tumor cells, identifying genetic markers and vulnerabilities that may be targeted with drugs.
• Creation of mouse avatars. Xenografting patients' breast cancers in laboratory mice allows for the immortalization of the breast cancer. The goal is to use patients' living breast cancer tissue to test the effectiveness of new drugs without exposing patients to the side effects of investigational drugs.

You can listen to Mayo Clinic Medical Edge Radio on i heart radio or our flagship station, KROC 1340 AM.

Tags: BEAUTY, beauty project, breast cancer, cancer, exome, genome, genomics, Judy Boughey, Matthew Goetz, sequencing, the beauty project, Uncategorized, whole exome, whole genome sequencing, womens cancer