title: Measuring proliferation in breast cancer: practicalities and applications.
abstract: Various methods are available for the measurement of proliferation rates in tumours, including mitotic counts, estimation of the fraction of cells in S-phase of the cell cycle and immunohistochemistry of proliferation-associated antigens. The evidence, advantages and disadvantages for each of these methods along with other novel approaches is reviewed in relation to breast cancer. The potential clinical applications of proliferative indices are discussed, including their use as prognostic indicators and predictors of response to systemic therapy.
authors.affiliation: Mount Vernon Cancer Centre, Northwood, Middlesex, UK. mjberesford@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Beresford
authors.forename: George D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Makris
mesh_terms: D034961:Antigens, Nuclear; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases; D016213:Cyclins; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II; D017666:Deuterium Oxide; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D008940:Mitotic Index; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D016196:S Phase; D013937:Thymidine Kinase; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis
chemical_list: D034961:Antigens, Nuclear; D016213:Cyclins; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; C051963:nucleolar organizer region associated proteins; D013937:Thymidine Kinase; C092717:thymidine kinase 1; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II; D017666:Deuterium Oxide