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Practical Atlas of Breast Pathology pp 357–372Cite as

Basic Molecular Pathology in Breast Carcinoma

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Abstract

Breast cancer is a multifactorial heterogeneous disease, reflected in a wide range of phenotypic subsets of tumors with varied degrees of aggressiveness and a significant global impact on women’s health. In addition to defining the profiles of breast tumors, it is necessary to identify the individual gene and protein expression aberrations and their impact on the biology of the tumor. Molecular pathology changed the way we think about the classification of breast cancer, by no longer relying on just the histological alterations, but also on their biologic pathways. However, it should be noted that although the identification of breast cancer genes contributes to the detection of precursor lesions and prevention of invasive disease, a correlation between phenotype and genotype is necessary, as the sole assessment of gene alterations is insufficient for the identification of predictive and prognostic factors allowing the application of new and individualized cancer therapies. In conclusion, this chapter focuses on the basic molecular pathology knowledge needed in everyday routine practice.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila”, Bucharest, Romania

    Maria Comanescu MD, PhD

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  1. Maria Comanescu MD, PhD
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tîrgu Mureș, Romania

    Simona Stolnicu

  2. Department of Pathology, Hospital de Oncologia, Centro Medico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City, Mexico

    Isabel Alvarado-Cabrero

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Comanescu, M. (2018). Basic Molecular Pathology in Breast Carcinoma. In: Stolnicu, S., Alvarado-Cabrero, I. (eds) Practical Atlas of Breast Pathology . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93257-6_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93257-6_19

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-93256-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-93257-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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