Quality Assurance of Predictive Markers in Breast Cancer

It has been estimated that in 2002, 555,500 Americans will have died of cancer, approximating to 1500 people per day (1 ). In Britain, the figures are similarly high, with 150,200 reported deaths from cancer in the year 2000 (2 ). Although a considerable proportion of these deaths are linked to environmental factors and arguably could have been reduced by preventative measures, understanding the molecular biological mechanisms that bring about cancer provides a handle by which the scientific and medical community may halt the progression of this disease.