Heterogeneity in breast cancer and the problem of relevance of findings

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Aubele, M.^; | Werner, M.

Affiliations: GSF – National Research Center for Environment and Health, Institute of Pathology, Neuherberg, Germany | Technische Universität München, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Institute of Pathology, Munich, Germany

Note: [] Correspondence to: Dr Michaela Aubele, GSF – Forschungszentrum, Institut für Pathologie, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany. Tel.: +49 89 3187 4132; Fax: +49 89 3187 3360; E‐mail: aubele@gsf.de.

Abstract: Many attempts are made to identify critical genetic events responsible for the development and progression of breast cancer. There is increasing evidence that breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease, both, phenotypically as well as with respect to its molecular biologically. It is, therefore, extremely difficult to establish a diagnostically and prognostically relevant tumourigenesis model. Emerging new techniques such as microarrays, will provide us with a wealth of additional data over the next years. The precise sampling of tumour material in clearly defined histopathological lesions will be a prerequisite for the assignment of specific genetic alterations to defined stages of breast disease.

Journal: Analytical Cellular Pathology, vol. 19, no. 2, pp. 53-58, 1999