Clinical relevance of apoptotic markers in breast cancer not yet clear

Currently, the mainly used characteristics to predict outcome or treatment response in patients with breast cancer are tumor size, N-status, histological grade and receptor status (ER/PgR). However, these conventional clinico-pathological characteristics are of limited value. More accurate determinators are needed to select patients who are most likely to benefit from treatment in terms of prognosis as well as treatment response. Proliferation and apoptosis are assumed to play a key role in tumor progression as well as response to treatment. Currently, an increasing number of molecular factors controlling apoptosis as well as proliferation is known. The clinical relevance of apoptotic tumor markers in the treatment strategy of patients with breast cancer is the subject of this review. In addition, potential future developments are discussed.