[Current aspects in histopathological assessment of breast cancer]

Histopathological evaluation of breast cancers implies currently not only the assessment of the classical diagnostic and prognostic criteria, but also that of biological parameters. The importance in medical practice of some of these parameters (oestrogen receptors, proliferation index) is widely accepted, whereas the significance of others (p53, c-erb B-2, tumoral angiogenesis) is still controversial. Immunohistochemistry is both a reliable and simple method for the evaluation of these parameters in so far the indications of this analysis are accurate and the technical procedures well defined.