Springer Techniques and Methodological Approaches in Breast Cancer Research

This volume explores the myriad of techniques and methodological approaches that are being used in breast cancer research. The authors critically evaluate of the advantages and disadvantages of current methodologies, starting with the tools available for understanding the architecture of the human breast, including its tissue and cellular composition. The volume discusses the importance of functional studies in breast cancer research, especially with the help of laser capture microdissection, which allows the separation of small amounts of tissue, as well as specific cells, for biochemical analysis. In addition, the authors address methodologies including stem cell separation, which has helped in significantly understanding their role in normal breast development, but also further the understanding of breast cancer and its therapeutic management. The use of in vitro techniques and established cell lines for mechanistic studies in chemotherapeutic approaches have been invaluable will be discussed. Imaging techniques for evaluating in vitro and in vivo behavior of normal and cancerous breast tissue will be explored, as it provides a better understanding of the physiopathology of cancer. The volume will also discuss the molecular analysis of gene function in breast cancer through the transcriptomic and epigenomic profile. More importantly, the advancement of more refined techniques in sequencing will be covered. This monograph will be a comprehensive, authoritative and timely, as it addresses the emerging approaches used in breast cancer research. From the Back Cover This book provides a detailed description of the most common techniques used in breast cancer research, with a special emphasis on the study of the normal breast as the basis for understanding the pathological processes in this organ. The authors have poured their experience in the field of breast cancer research into this book, and described the process of handling and interpreting the complex organ that is the human breast using original data and unique material collected over the years.  They have established the concept of normality of the human breast and the morphological parameters to be used for distinguishing the normal from the diseased breast. The quality of the breast tissue obtained from autopsy material vs. core biopsies are carefully detailed and discussed, showing the morphological differences among the specimens according to their collection site. The use of laser capture microdissection and tissue microarray is described in detail and discussed with special references to the problems faced when the normal breast is under study. A chapter dedicated to the use of breast cancer cell lines is crafted around the importance of each cell line and its particularities for in vitro studies. In addition, the authors explore the new concept that cancer originates from two main cell types, basal and luminal cells . Particular attention is given to the study of the phenotypes commonly used for determining cell transformation, either spontaneously or by induced chemical agents. A companion chapter using in vivo models provides the adequate tools for those interested in studying the early events of cancer initiation, progression and metastasis. Special emphasis is given to the analysis of cells either by Flow cytometry and immuno-fluorescence techniques and the great potential of the use of in situ hybridization to study RNA transcripts. The book also features an original analysis of the putative markers of stem cells in breast cancer using immuno-cytochemical techniques, their interpretation and correlation with the prognosis of the disease. The last two chapters of the book are engaged in the utilization of RNA and DNA sequencing techniques and their values in understanding the physiological differences in the human breast, as well as the utilization of epigenetic methodologies in the understanding of the normal human breast