Recent advances in breast cancer biology

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States and is, in fact, the leading cause of death among women aged 30 to 70 years. In addition to being a major public health problem, this disease also provides an excellent model for understanding many aspects of cancer biology and genetics. As molecular and cellular mechanisms are elucidated, it is hoped that these advances can be translated into progress in breast cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. In this review we highlight some of the recent advances in breast cancer biology, with an emphasis on cancer genetics, mechanisms of invasion and metastasis, and drug resistance.