Breast cancer

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among Western women. Like other human cancers, breast cancer results from the accumulation of a series of genetic and/or epigenetic changes to genes with diverse functions, ultimately evolving to a malignant state. Recent scientific advances have offered many new approaches to identify and target a growing number of these genetic and epigenetic alterations in breast cancer. It is expected that this improved understanding of breast cancer biology will enhance risk assessment, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of this disease. © 2006 Humana Press Inc.