Breast cancer is the neoplasm most diagnosed malignancy and the leading cause of mortality among women on a global scale. A profound increase in the understanding and clinical management of breast cancer has occurred over the past two decades, which has led to significant progress in prevention, early detection, and personalized breast cancer therapy. However, the biggest obstacle still faced in clinical practice is the complete understanding of intertumoral and intratumoral heterogeneity, in addition to the mechanisms of multiple drug resistance in the systemic treatment of the disease. In view of this, many studies focus on analyzing morphological and, mainly, molecular patterns of breast cancer, with the purpose of grouping these tumors into classes or entities to assist in clinical management, in the elaboration of epidemiological and functional studies, and in the performance of clinical trials. The most common special histological types of breast cancer include: medullary carcinoma, metaplastic carcinoma, apocrine carcinoma, mucinous carcinoma, cribriform carcinoma, tubular carcinoma, neuroendocrine carcinoma, classic lobular carcinoma, and pleomorphic lobular carcinoma, in addition to the non-specific type of invasive ductal carcinoma, which constitutes the majority of newly diagnosed cases. As to their molecular aspect, intrinsic subtypes were identified based on global studies of gene expression profiles. Today, four molecular subgroups are widely reproduced and well established in the clinical routine, namely: Luminal A, Luminal B, HER2 +, and Triple Negative. Thus, the present article aims to briefly address the histological and molecular classification of breast cancer.

Aim: The PHLDA (pleckstrin homology like domain, family A) gene family encodes proteins capable of inhibiting AKT (serine/threonine kinase) signaling through phosphoinositol binding competition. Results & methodology: Using in silico analysis, we found that Luminal A and B patients' short relapse-free survival was associated with low PHLDA1 or PHLDA3 and high PHLDA2 expression. In a cohort of 393 patients with luminal breast cancer evaluated by immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays, we found a direct association of PHLDA3 expression with hormonal therapy response (p = 0.013). Conclusion: Our findings provide new information on the role played by the PHLDA family members as prognostic markers in breast cancer, and more importantly, we provide evidence that they might also predict a response to endocrine therapy.

A brief context: Breast cancer is the malignant neoplasm that most affects and kills women worldwide. The incidence and mortality rates of this important form of cancer grow year after year in a linear fashion. Despite numerous advances in science and technology in basic and clinical research, breast cancer remains an important global public health problem. Guiding question: Currently, we understand that breast cancer is a multifactorial disease, therefore, greater recognition of risk factors is important for its prevention. General objective: The main objective of this narrative review article was to discuss the factors that influence and contribute to the initiation, maintenance and progression of breast cancer. Methodology: In this work, we identified scientific articles through the “PubMed” database. The search terms “breast cancer” were used in combination with specific terms covering the different epidemiological patterns and factors that favor or prevent this malignancy, as appropriate. Main results: The following text describes epidemiological data at the global and national level (Brazil) and the main modifiable (physical inactivity, alcohol consumption, smoking, number of pregnancies, diet and long-term pharmacological interventions) and non-modifiable risk factors (age, sex, ethnicity, exposure to endogenous steroid hormones, benign proliferative lesions in the mammary gland, and genetic predisposition) to breast cancer. Conclusion: This work consists of a brief review of the epidemiology and risk factors for breast cancer, serving as a quick consultation tool for the multidisciplinary health team and for all women, especially those at higher risk of developing this disease, since many risk factors are preventable.

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