From: Evaluation of the current knowledge limitations in breast cancer research: a gap analysis
What do we know? | Animal models have given us great insight into the molecular pathways involved in breast development and dysregulation in cancer. |
What are the gaps? | The relationship of signalling pathways to ductal and acinar breast architecture. |
 | The need for widespread use of more appropriate in vivo and culture methods. |
 | The importance of stroma and other cell types, cell adhesion and the extracellular matrix. |
 | Understanding stem cells. |
 | Understanding mechanisms of epithelial apoptosis. |
 | Understanding how pregnancy and functional differentiation in the breast protect against breast cancer. |
Problems | The breast cell lines used and their culture conditions. |
 | A wider variety of promoters with spatial, temporal and differentiation control of gene expression is needed. |
 | The need for mouse models of specific breast cancer types, for example, triple negative breast cancer. |
 | The implantation methods for single cells in vivo. |
Translational implications | Understanding the complex interactions between cell types should provide new opportunities for intervention. |
 | Identifying pre-invasive changes has implications for patient-tailored approaches. |
Recommendations | Develop three-dimensional cell culture models, containing multiple cell types, which reflect the tissue architecture of the normal and diseased breast. |
 | Generate better animal models, in which gene expression can be manipulated in each cell type of the mammary gland and will not be altered by transdifferentiation or dedifferentiation. |
 | Gain a greater understanding of the genetic changes that occur within atypias and DCIS. |