Prognostic models for breast cancer: A narrative review.

Abstract

Cancer prognostic models use a combination of risk factors to estimate the probability of patients' clinical outcomes, allowing the physicians to categorize patients into risk groups to guide clinical decision making. An ideal prognostic model would accurately predict patient survival and/or recurrence risk, taking into account a combination of clinical and pathological parameters that are readily available in the standard of care practice, thus can be widely utilized and continuously calibrated. To date, there have been many prognostic models for breast cancer proposed. These models differ in the methods of development and validation, the composition of predicting factors, the projected clinical outcomes, and their utilities. The identification of prognostic factors heavily relies on accurate assessment of pathologic characteristics of tumors, for which the pathologists' role is essential. Therefore, it is crucial to understand prognostic models in pathology practice to provide more accurate and personalized patient care. Herein, we present a narrative review of commonly used breast cancer prognostic models in clinical practice.