Molecular pathology of breast cancer and its impact on clinical practice

Molecular studies in breast cancer are in their infancy but infants mature very quickly nowadays. The impact of new technologies on medical practice is already becoming evident and will transform the entire scene within a generation.

The most rapidly moving part of the field at present is familial breast cancer. Molecular data are available for only a minority of affected families today and this is reflected in a great deal of imprecision in selection of family members for special surveillance and in decisions about management. Nevertheless, it is important to be systematic in setting up and auditing services for breast-cancer families so that these can evolve effectively in parallel with developments in molecular technology. Our limited experience of these services so far does at least suggest they are doing more good than harm!