Predicting clinical response to everolimus in ER+ breast cancers using machine-learning

Aritro Nath1, Patrick A Cosgrove1, Jeffrey T Chang2

  • 1City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics, Monrovia, CA, United States.

Insights

Researchers developed a machine learning biomarker to predict response to everolimus, an mTOR inhibitor, in advanced ER+ breast cancer patients. This biomarker helps identify individuals likely to benefit from this targeted therapy, addressing treatment resistance.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Bioinformatics

Background:

  • Endocrine therapy is standard for ER+ breast cancer, but resistance is common.
  • PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway activation drives acquired resistance to endocrine therapy.
  • Everolimus, an mTOR inhibitor, improves outcomes in metastatic ER+ breast cancer, but lacks predictive biomarkers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and validate an integrative machine learning biomarker for predicting response to everolimus.
  • To identify patients with advanced ER+ breast cancer who will most likely benefit from everolimus treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized gene expression signatures from ER+ breast cancer cell lines and patients treated with everolimus.
  • Developed and validated an integrative machine learning model to distinguish responders from non-responders.

Main Results:

  • The developed machine learning biomarker successfully distinguished between responders and non-responders to everolimus.
  • The biomarker demonstrates potential for clinical application in guiding everolimus treatment decisions.

Conclusions:

  • An integrative machine learning biomarker can predict everolimus response in ER+ breast cancer.
  • This biomarker may help personalize treatment strategies for patients with advanced ER+ breast cancer, overcoming resistance.