Molecular subtype classification of breast cancer
After the diagnosis of breast cancer using H&E stained biopsy sample, pathologist will classify the the tumor into one of the five molecular subtypes of breast cancer. This is done by immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining of the biopsy sample using a certain marker protein of interest (see below for details of IHC). Molecular subtyping of breast cancer is important because it largely helps decide the treatment plan for the patient.
The five molecular subtypes of breast cancer are as follows:
- Luminal A
- Luminal B
- HER2
- Basal or Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC)
- Normal-like