Genetic investigation of breast ductal carcinoma In situ: A literature review
The incidence of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast has greatly increased in countries with breast cancer early detection programs. However, uncertainty remains about its natural history and precise implication of its diagnosis with growing concern in some quarters about possible overdiagnosis and overtreatment. Various molecular techniques have been applied to the investigation of DCIS in an attempt to clarify its biology in relation to invasive breast cancer. The following is a historical tour of some of those molecular studies and the contributions they have made to our understanding of DCIS. It is preceded by a recap of the DCIS conundrum and the uncertainties surrounding its natural history. Peer-reviewed scientific publications on the subject were retrieved by search of PubMed databases. The search was conducted with the following string of keywords: “breast carcinoma in situ genetics,” “breast carcinoma in situ molecular biology,” and “ductal carcinoma in situ molecular method technique.” Reference lists of retrieved articles were scrutinized for additional, relevant publications.