Breast cancer pathology: the impact of molecular taxonomy on morphological taxonomy

Pathol Int. 2012 May;62(5):295-302. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1827.2012.02790.x. Epub 2012 Mar 16.

Abstract

The concept of having an 'intrinsic subtype,' or a molecular taxonomy, lets us clearly recognize that breast cancers have characteristically different patterns of gene expression, thus giving newfound significance to morphological taxonomy. In this review, the concept of the 'intrinsic subtype' is discussed, research questions are introduced to refine the significance of morphological taxonomy, and a corresponding example is presented between microarray analysis and 'immunohistochemical subtype,' or histological taxonomy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / classification
  • Adenocarcinoma / genetics*
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology*
  • Apocrine Glands / pathology
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / classification
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Carcinoma / classification
  • Carcinoma / genetics
  • Carcinoma / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / classification
  • Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / classification
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / classification
  • Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Lobular / classification
  • Carcinoma, Lobular / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Lobular / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Medullary / classification
  • Carcinoma, Medullary / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Medullary / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Humans
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Systems Biology

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor

Supplementary concepts

  • Secretory breast carcinoma