Molecular Classification of Breast Cancer

Madhuchhanda Roy; Amy M Fowler; Gary A Ulaner; Aparna Mahajan

doi:10.1016/j.cpet.2023.04.002

Molecular Classification of Breast Cancer

PET Clin. 2023 Oct;18(4):441-458. doi: 10.1016/j.cpet.2023.04.002. Epub 2023 May 31.

Authors

Madhuchhanda Roy¹, Amy M Fowler², Gary A Ulaner³, Aparna Mahajan⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin - Madison, B1761 WIMR, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, USA. Electronic address: miroy@wisc.edu.
² Department of Radiology, Section of Breast Imaging and Intervention, University of Wisconsin - Madison, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792-3252, USA; Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792-3252, USA.
³ Hoag Family Cancer Institute, 16105 Sand Canyon Avenue, Ste 215, Irvine, CA 92618, USA; Department of Radiology, Department of Translational Genomics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90007, USA.
⁴ Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin - Madison, B1781 WIMR, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, USA.

PMID: 37268505
DOI: 10.1016/j.cpet.2023.04.002

Abstract

Breast carcinomas classified based on traditional morphologic assessment provide useful prognostic information. Although morphology is still the gold standard of classification, recent advances in molecular technologies have enabled the classification of these tumors into four distinct subtypes based on its intrinsic molecular profile that provide both predictive and prognostic information. This article describes the association between the different molecular subtypes with the histologic subtypes of breast cancer and illustrates how these subtypes may affect the appearance of tumors on imaging studies.

Keywords: Basal-like breast carcinoma; Breast cancer; HER2-positive breast carcinoma; Luminal breast carcinoma; Triple-negative breast carcinoma.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Biomarkers, Tumor
Breast Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging
Breast Neoplasms* / genetics
Breast Neoplasms* / pathology
Female
Humans
Prognosis
Receptor, ErbB-2

Substances

Receptor, ErbB-2
Biomarkers, Tumor