Molecular-based medicine is taking center stage due to the increasing knowledge of breast cancer molecular biology. Treatment tailoring is no longer a dream for the future, but the main goal of current research.

This book provides an overview of the most recent techniques, agents and approaches for breast cancer that contribute to the individualization of treatment. Current biomedical research focuses on facilitating the transfer of molecular biology knowledge into the clinical management of patients, leading to increased survival as well as improved quality of life. Particular attention is given in this book to organ-specific tailored approaches, specific populations, patients' preferences and rehabilitation. Also discussed in depth are the respective roles of pharmacotherapeutics modelling, functional imaging, molecular staging, genomics and proteomics and their impact on the "re-classification" of breast cancer, as well as the clinical applications of basic science. The crucial issue of how to optimally integrate biological markers, new technologies and new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches into clinical trials and clinical practice is addressed.

Combining the contributions from authors who are well known experts in these fields with editorial comments, this book provides an overview of the latest achievements in breast cancer and their use in clinical practice.

Section 1

Role of Modeling in Pharmacotherapeutics
Section 2
PET and Nuclear Medicine Imaging of the Breast
Functional Radiologic Imaging in Breast Cancer
Section 3
Prevention of Breast Cancer
Section 4
DCIS: Pathology and Molecular Markers
Ductal Carcinoma In Situ: a Modern Approach to Patient Management
Ductal Carcinoma In Situ: Systemic Treatment
Section 5
Tailored Surgery for Early Breast Cancer: Surgical Techniques
Tailored Surgery for Early Breast Cancer: Biological Aspects
Tailored Surgery for Early Breast Cancer: the Very Young Woman
Tailored Surgery for Older Women with Breast Cancer
Section 6
Tailored Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer Stages I and II: Technical Aspects
Breast Cancer Management in the Era of Molecular Medicine: Tailored Radiotherapy - Clinical and Biological Aspects
Early Breast Cancer (Stage I and II): Tailored Radiotherapy for Very Young Women
The Elderly and Breast Cancer Radiotherapy
Section 7
Early Breast Cancer (Stage I and Stage II): Tailored Systemic Therapy for Endocrine-Resistant Breast Cancer
Early Breast Cancer (Stage I and Stage II): Tailored Systemic Therapy for Endocrine-Responsive Breast Cancer
Tailored Therapy for Breast Cancer in Very Young Women
Tailored Systemic Therapy for the Elderly Woman
Section 8
Locoregional Therapy Following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: an Evolving Paradigm of Treatment Individualization
Medical Therapy of Locally Advanced Breast Cancer
Section 9
Metastatic Breast Cancer: Tailored Endocrine Therapy for Premenopausal Women
Metastatic Breast Cancer: Tailored Endocrine Therapy for Postmenopausal Women
Metastatic Breast Cancer: Tailored Chemotherapy for the Elderly Woman
Section 10
Treatment of Brain Metastases from Breast Cancer
SurgicalManagement of Breast Cancer Liver Metastases
Individualization of Bisphosphonate Therapy
Breast Cancer Metastases to the Eye
Organ-Specific Approaches: Pain Management
Section 11
Genomic and Molecular Classification of Breast Cancer
Applications of Proteomics to Clinical Questions in Breast Cancer
Section 12
Targeting the HER Family of Receptors in the Treatment of Advanced Breast Cancer
Biological Therapies for Metastatic Breast Cancer: Antiangiogenesis
Breast Cancer Gene Therapy
Innovative Rational-Derived, Target-Based and Cytotoxic Therapies for Breast Cancer and Other Malignancies
Section 13
Mechanisms of Breast Cancer Resistance to Chemotherapy
Mechanisms of Resistance to Hormone Therapy
Novel Signaling Pathways in Breast Cancer
Mechanisms of Apoptosis Resistance In Breast Cancer
Section 14
Breast Cancer and Pregnancy
Hormone Replacement Therapy After Breast Cancer
Male Breast Cancer
Patients' Preferences: What Makes Treatments Worthwhile?
Breast Cancer: the Impact of Depression and its Treatment
Molecular Profiling in Breast Cancer
Clinical Trials in the Era of Treatment Tailoring.