title: Breast cancer in young women: an overview.
abstract: Despite dramatic advances in cancer research setting, breast cancer remains a major health problem and represents currently a top biomedical research priority. Worldwide, breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women, and its incidence and mortality rates are expected to increase significantly the next years. Recently the researchers' interest has been attracted by breast cancer arising in young women. Current evidence suggests that in women aged <45 years, breast cancer is unquestionably the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. This type of cancer seems to be highly heterogeneous and has potentially aggressive and complex biological features. However, management strategies, recommendations and options are not age based and the 'complex' biology of this type of cancer remains uncertain and unexplored. In this review, we summarize the latest scientific information on breast cancer arising in young women highlighting the heterogeneity and the complex nature of this type of cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Zoi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Anastasiadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece. georgiolianos@yahoo.gr.
authors.forename: Georgios D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Lianos
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Eleftheria
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ignatiadou
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Haralampos V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Harissis
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Michail
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mitsis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
keywords: Breast cancer; Guidelines; Next-generation sequencing analyses; Personalized cancer medicine; Tumor heterogeneity; Young woman