Abstract

Breast cancer is a complex and heterogeneous disease influenced by genetic and epigenetic factors that regulate tumor initiation, progression, and response to therapy. Genetic alterations, including mutations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, as well as copy number variations and chromosomal rearrangements, play a crucial role in driving breast cancer development and determining treatment outcomes. In addition, epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, histone modifications and non-coding RNAs, contribute to the regulation of gene expression patterns and cellular phenotypes in breast cancer. This article provides an overview of the genetic and epigenetic factors implicated in breast cancer onset and therapy response, highlighting their potential as biomarkers for risk assessment, prognosis and therapeutic targeting.