title: Early breast cancer.
abstract: Breast cancer remains a common disease throughout the world. Here we review new knowledge about early breast cancer obtained during the past 5 years. The prognosis of early breast cancer is generally favorable. Especially, ductal carcinoma in situ has been regarded as a non-life-threatening disease. Therefore, early diagnosis and early onset of the treatment has been important. Early age at menarche, late age at first birth, and late age at menopause are related to breast cancer risk. Examination by mammography and ultrasonography is still the most effective means of detection for premenopausal and postmenopausal women, respectively. Additionally, there have been important advances in MRI, sentinel lymph node biopsy, breast-conserving surgery, partial breast irradiation, neoadjuvant systemic therapy, and adjuvant systemic therapy. Another approach to keeping the disease under control is the elucidation of breast cancer's molecular biological features. Assessment of potential molecular targets can lead to early diagnosis and molecular targeted treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Tokyo Metropolitan Komagome Hospital, 3-18-22 Honkomagome, Tokyo 113-0025, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Masakazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toi
authors.forename: Shigehira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saji
authors.forename: Kazumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Horiguchi
authors.forename: Tomoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aruga
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Shinichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Horiguchi
authors.forename: Nobuaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Funata
authors.forename: Katsuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karasawa
authors.forename: Noriko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kamata
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan