Development of multivariate biomarker genes as a profile predictor of recurrence in breast cancer patients.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancerrelated death among women worldwide, with more than 800,000 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed annually, representing 21% of all new cancers in women. Additionally, globally estimates suggest the highest age-adjusted breast cancer incidence rate is reported for North America, including Mexico, at 99.4 new cases per 100,000 women per year. Breast cancer accounts for nearly one in every three cancers diagnosed among women in the U.S. (Bird et al, 2010). In the contemporary management of breast cancer, several possibilities exist for local and regional treatment. Patients and their oncologists must decide between various surgical options and the dose, volume, and technique of radiotherapy. These decisions may have a significant impact on treatment-related morbidity and survival from breast cancer (Voduc et al. 2010).