Prognostic Insight to Breast Cancer Markers in Nigeria

Abstract

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease that represents a major public health problem, it is the most common cancer and leading cause of cancer deaths among Nigerian women, a condition that may be predicated upon by inadequate knowledge about fundamental regimen necessary for cancer prevention, early detection and unavailability of necessary health requirement. Immunohistochemistry is now a standard methodology in pathology laboratories used in providing substantial information with regard to diagnosis, therapeutic prediction and prognosis of breast cancer. Little is known about the biology, molecular profile and optimal treatment of African Nigerian breast cancer. This article discusses the immunohistochemical and prognostic markers of breast cancer in Nigeria. Literature was reviewed mainly through Public Medline search with the terms “immunohistochemical, prognosis markers of breast cancer in Nigeria”, hard copies of journal pages and conference paper on prognostic markers of breast cancer in Nigeria. There are many markers that characterizes breast cancer and provide information about choice of therapy and prognosis, but as a developing country, the need for effective enlightenment and screening programs at an earlier age is required to boost the fight against the dreaded disease called breast cancer ravaging our women. Keywords: Cancer; Breast Cancer; Prognostic Markers; Immunohistochemical Markers