Tailored Surgery for Early Breast Cancer: Biological Aspects.

For most breast surgeons, the resection of any breast malignancy in the operating theatre appears a galaxy away from the molecular biological aspects of the cancer. The surgical adagium is simple: the breast cancer should be removed with clear margins with the best possible cosmetic result [1]. So why bother with biological markers, immunohistochemistry, gene profiling, and other sophisticated techniques to improve outcome of the surgical act in itself? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]