To categorize undifferentiated cancers:

Many malignant tumors of diverse origins resemble each other and are difficult to distinguish on routine hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) sections.

Example: Few anaplastic carcinomas, lymphomas, melanomas, and sarcomas may look almost similar. They should be accurately diagnosed because of their different modes of treatment and prognosis.


For prognosis or to select the mode of treatment:

• Identification of hormone (estrogen/progesterone) receptors in breast cancer cells is of prognostic and therapeutic value. These cancers respond well to antiestrogen therapy and have a better prognosis.

• Breast cancers with BRBB2 protein (HER2/neu) positivity have a poor prognosis [27–29].
