[Inevitable senile death].

Many systems essential to ontogenesis become inappropriate in later life, leading to the ageing of cells and loss of regenerative capacity. Ageing tissues are thus increasingly susceptible to chronic diseases associated with ageing. Upon statistical analysis, the elimination of these diseases would bring about only approximately 15 additional years to the life expectancy.

TOP2A and HER2 gene amplification as predictors of response to anthracycline treatment in breast cancer.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate amplification of topoisomerase IIalpha (TOP2A) and HER2 genes as predictors of response to chemotherapy in advanced breast cancer. Gene copy number of TOP2A and HER2 were analysed with chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) on paraffin-embedded tissue sections from the primary tumour of 85 patients treated with anthracycline containing chemotherapy. TOP2A gene amplification was present in 14 (16%) and HER2 gene amplification in 38 (45%) of the primary tumours.