Tumor Markers in Breast Cancer : Biochemistry, Clinical Utilities and Diagnostic Techniques

Breast cancer is a well-known malignant tumor that remains to be one of the major public health problems and the main cause of death for women all over the world. Its diagnosis relies on medical history, physical examination, imaging techniques and biopsies. Tumor markers, though not good diagnostic tools because of lack of sensitivity, can provide valuable information in aiding early diagnosis, determining prognosis, prospectively predicting response or resistance to specific therapies, surveillance after primary surgery, and monitoring therapy in patients with advanced disease as reviewed in this book.