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Breast cancer: origins and evolution
Kornelia Polyak
Kornelia Polyak
Published November 1, 2007
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2007;117(11):3155-3163. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI33295.
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Science in Medicine

Breast cancer: origins and evolution

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Abstract

Breast cancer is not a single disease, but rather is composed of distinct subtypes associated with different clinical outcomes. Understanding this heterogeneity is key for the development of targeted cancer-preventative and -therapeutic interventions. Current models explaining inter- and intratumoral diversity are the cancer stem cell and the clonal evolution hypotheses. Although tumor initiation and progression are predominantly driven by acquired genetic alterations, recent data implicate a role for microenvironmental and epigenetic changes as well. Comprehensive unbiased studies of tumors and patient populations have significantly advanced our molecular understanding of breast cancer, but translating these findings into clinical practice remains a challenge.

Authors

Kornelia Polyak

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Figure 1

Hypothetical models explaining breast tumor subtypes.

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Hypothetical models explaining breast tumor subtypes.
Cell of origin (A)...
Cell of origin (A) and tumor subtype–specific transforming event (B) models. Based on the cell of origin hypothesis, each tumor subtype is initiated in a different cell type (presumably stem or progenitor cell), whereas according to the model depicted in B, the cell of origin can be the same for different tumor subtypes and the tumor phenotype is primarily determined by acquired genetic and epigenetic events.

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ISSN: 0021-9738 (print), 1558-8238 (online)

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