Genetic characterization of breast cancer and implications for clinical management

Introduction Contribution of gene expression analysis High‐throughput genetic analysis Phenotypic–genotypic correlations Biomarkers and therapeutic targets Conclusion and future perspectives Breast cancer is a genetic disease caused by the accumulation of mutations in neoplastic cells. In the last few years, high‐throughput microarray‐based molecular analysis has provided increasingly more coherent information about the genetic aberrations in breast cancer. New biomarkers and molecular techniques are slowly becoming part of the diagnostic and prognostic armamentarium available for pathologists and oncologists to tailor the therapy for breast cancer patients. In this review, we will focus on the contribution of breast cancer somatic genetics to our understanding of breast cancer biology and its impact on breast cancer patient management.