Breast Cancer Heterogeneity

Abstract

Breast tumor heterogeneity is a major challenge in the clinical management of breast cancer patients. Both inter-tumor and intra-tumor heterogeneity imply that each breast cancer (BC) could have different prognosis and would benefit from specific therapy. Breast cancer is a dynamic entity, changing during tumor progression and metastatization and this poses fundamental issues to the feasibility of a personalized medicine approach. The most effective therapeutic strategy for patients with recurrent disease should be assessed evaluating biopsies obtained from metastatic sites. Furthermore, the tumor progression and the treatment response should be strictly followed and radiogenomics and liquid biopsy might be valuable tools to assess BC heterogeneity in a non-invasive way.

Keywords: breast cancer; inter-tumor heterogeneity; intra-tumor heterogeneity.

Figure 1

Breast tumor heterogeneity. (A) Factors that contribute to breast tumor heterogeneity; (B) Type of breast tumor heterogeneity: Inter-tumor and intra-tumor heterogeneity. Star: primary tumor, Triangles: relapses.