Diagnostic-Prognostic Biomarkers and Their Clinical Implication in Breast Cancer

Breast cancer (BC) is a complex disease that continues to affect global cancer fatalities with its high incidence rate. Hence, BC requires multidisciplinary approaches for its early diagnosis and management. Here, in this chapter, by emphasizing its current epidemiology, risk factors, categorization, accessible prognostic, and diagnostic markers, we intended to outline and update the scientific literature regarding breast cancer. Considering that modifiable risk factors may be essential in reducing breast cancer incidence, it is necessary to provide the most effective preventative measures. So far, mammography, sonography and high end bioimaging are the most popular screening procedures that allow for relatively early diagnosis of breast cancer. The most often utilized serum indicators for patients with breast cancer are carbohydrate antigen 15-3 (CA 15-3) and Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), which, when combined with other clinical characteristics, may have clinical value to diagnose individuals. Several other biomarkers, such as BRCA1/2, TP53, miRNA, and exosomes, may be potential molecular indicators for breast cancer susceptibility. However, the continuous search for prognostic biomarkers and targets for potential biological therapies has significantly contributed and we still require novel improvements in breast cancer patients’ management and clinical outcomes.