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Multi-gene signatures in breast cancer: actual clinical impact

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Abstract

The molecular pathology has fundamentally modified our understanding of breast cancer. Today, breast cancer is understood as a heterogeneous disease consisting of at least five different subtypes. These subtypes show specific mRNA levels and somatic alterations and derive probably from different precursor cells. Multi-gene signatures enable us not only to differentiate these subtypes but also to define different risk groups for relapse after primary treatment. The clinical impact of these signatures is critically discussed in this review.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. IIIrd Medical department with Hematology, Medical Oncology, Hemostaseology, Infectious Diseases and Rheumatology, Oncologic Center, Salzburg Cancer Research Institute with Laboratory of Immunological and Molecular Cancer Research and Center for Clinical Cancer and Immunology Trials, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Müllner Hauptstraße 48, 5020, Salzburg, Austria

    Simon P. Gampenrieder MD, Gabriel Rinnerthaler MD & Richard Greil MD

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  1. Simon P. Gampenrieder MD
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  2. Gabriel Rinnerthaler MD
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  3. Richard Greil MD
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Correspondence to Richard Greil MD.

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Gampenrieder, S., Rinnerthaler, G. & Greil, R. Multi-gene signatures in breast cancer: actual clinical impact. memo 7, 16–21 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12254-014-0130-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12254-014-0130-3

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