Genetic profile analysis of tumor stem cells in locally advanced breast cancer

Background Breast carcinoma is a highly prevalent and incident disease. About half the observed cases are diagnosed in later and/or disseminated disease stages. Treatment success in advanced disease stage occurs in about 20% of cases. The identification of patients who would most benefit from neoadjunvant therapy can reduce treatment costs and avoid adverse effects in patients with low probability of response. However, is not yet possible to make such a prediction. The cancer stem cells (CSCs) paradigm relates a cell population resistant to radiotherapy, chemotherapy and cells capable of tumor initiation and recurrence. The identification and characterization of CSCs in the primary tumor can be an effective method of predicting response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced breast cancer.