Genetic Aspects of Breast Cancer: an Update

Abstract Purpose of Review Breast cancer is a health issue, and its incidence has increased annually worldwide, making it one of the major cancers in women. The subtypes of breast cancer demonstrate specific prognoses and a requirement for distinct treatment strategies. Recent Findings A plethora of factors and players, including the accession of medical insurance, daytime and nighttime noise and air pollution, can impact breast cancer. Genetic testing can be useful to associate clinicopathological aspects with the presence of pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in patients. In addition, a myriad of prognostic models and biomarkers have been reviewed for breast cancer. For instance, single genes could be linked to prognosis. Further, multigenic predictors could be used to establish prognosis in breast cancer, while epigenetics and the tumour microenvironment also impact patient prognosis. Furthermore, drug targets for breast cancer treatment can be identified and substantiated in various cell and animal models. Summary This work aims to review the most recent studies on breast cancer genetics from the perspectives of risk factors, genetic testing, prognosis, and treatment.