Special subtypes of breast cancers: updates of molecular characteristics ADN tumor markers

Abstract

Despite extensive research, breast cancer remains on the top list of cancer-related death. The WHO classifies breast cancers according to morphology and sometimes combined with clinical features into two major types, invasive carcinoma of no special types and special subtypes. The special subtypes of breast cancers include a group of morphologically distinct tumors with drastically different clinical behaviors. Although the current knowledge of tumor biology at genomic levels has been predominantly obtained on breast cancers of no special types due to their common occurrence, the data on the tumor of special subtypes at molecular levels urges us to view breast cancers as a whole and to understand the underlying biology instead of only anatomy of the disease. So-called triple negative breast cancers overlap with a considerable portion of the tumors in special subtypes and ER-positive diseases with special morphological features are also major contributors in special subtypes. Pathologists need to be aware of the current knowledge and understand the significance of tumor markers in clinical utilities for this special group of diseases. This short course will discuss the update of molecular characteristics at genomic levels and current and evolving tumor markers for the special subtypes.