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Review
. 2025:1464:237-257.
doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-70875-6_13.

Molecular Basis of Breast Tumor Heterogeneity

Esra Dikoglu  1 , Fresia Pareja  2
Affiliations
Review

Molecular Basis of Breast Tumor Heterogeneity

Esra Dikoglu et al. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2025.

Abstract

Breast cancer (BC) is a profoundly heterogenous disease, with diverse molecular, histological, and clinical variations. The intricate molecular landscape of BC is evident even at early stages, illustrated by the complexity of the evolution from precursor lesions to invasive carcinoma. The key for therapeutic decision-making is the dynamic assessment of BC receptor status and clinical subtyping. Hereditary BC adds an additional layer of complexity to the disease, given that different cancer susceptibility genes contribute to distinct phenotypes and genomic features. Furthermore, the various BC subtypes display distinct metabolic demands and immune microenvironments. Finally, genotypic-phenotypic correlations in special histologic subtypes of BC inform diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, highlighting the significance of thoroughly comprehending BC heterogeneity.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Breast cancer subtypes; Intratumor heterogeneity; Tumor evolution; Tumor microenvironment.

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