New classification for breast cancer

Thursday, 19 April 2012 8:24 AM

Breast cancer has been reclassified. Charities hope that plans to diagnose breast cancer into 10 completely new categories based on the genetic fingerprint of the tumour will help hospitals provide more personalised treatments.

Cancer Research UK say that the new categories take into account the genetic fingerprint of the tumour, based on new research.

Dr Emma Pennery, Clinical Director at Breast Cancer Care said: “These findings, which reclassify breast cancer into 10 new categories based on the genetic features of the tumour, will hopefully lead to more precise, targeted treatment for people with breast cancer. We’ve known for a long time that breast cancer isn’t just one disease and outcomes from treatment vary from person to person. Research which helps us to understand the disease better and enables clinicians to tailor treatment to the individual will, in future, make it easier to select the most effective treatment for each person.”

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