[Advances in diagnosis and therapy of breast cancer between the 20th and the 21st centuries].

During the last two decades several new data have been acquired about tumor biology and therapy. Breast cancer is one of the more common cancers occurring, determining life threatening and depression in affected females. By the way a great interest has been developed during the time attempting to reach the earliest diagnosis and the more conservative treatment. However, breast cancer is now considered as a disease which meet the interests of several specialists (oncologists, surgeons, radiologists, and so), all dedicated to reduce the consequences of such pathology. The aim of this review is the resume of the progresses made in the last century about breast cancer knowledge.