New prognostic indicators in resectable breast cancer (review)

Despite advances in early diagnosis and primary treatment of breast cancer with surgery, radiation therapy or both modalities, more than one-third of newly diagnosed patients will develop recurrent or systemic disease and ultimately die. In recent years, systemic adjuvant treatment has shown positive results in high-risk women and tumor mortality has significantly decreased in patients entered clinical trials. This review outlines old and new prognostic indicators which will enable clinicians to improve the selection of patients who are real candidates to adjuvant chemotherapy and/or hormonal therapy.