Outlook in 2015

Although yet to complete clinical trials, genome editing has already shown promise against a globally important disease.

Genome editing allows much smaller changes to be made to DNA compared with conventional genetic engineering. In terms of agriculture, this might win over public and regulator opinion.

Although treatments for breast cancer have come a long way over the past few generations, researchers are still puzzling over some tough questions.

Mutations in BRCA genes predispose women to cancer, but outside influences shape the ultimate risk.

Mammogram screenings are an established part of women's health care, but are they more trouble than they are worth?

Technology is allowing researchers to generate vast amounts of information about tumours. The next step is to use this genomic data to transform patient care.

Breast cancer, one of the most common and deadly malignancies, has undoubtedly plagued humans since the dawn of our species. The history of the fight against the disease is one of lurching progress against a backdrop of misery. But recent decades have seen greatly improved treatments and increased survival. By Will Tauxe.

Reliable markers could eliminate surgery and radiation therapy for many women diagnosed with a type of cancer that often does not progress beyond its non-invasive form.

Screening mammograms catch some cancers that pose little threat. Alexandra Barratt explains why she may decide to skip the scans.

Targeting the immune system to fight breast cancer was all but dismissed in the 1990s, but the strategy is making a big comeback with the possibility of a breast-cancer vaccine.

A push to expand the success of a pair of antibody-based drugs is buying some women years of freedom from breast cancer.

Gathering and understanding the deluge of biomedical research and health data poses huge challenges. But this work is rapidly changing the face of medicine.

The effort to catalogue proteins goes deeper in a push to make genetics research deliver practical benefits.

Big data's war on cancer is still in the early stages, but the front line is advancing.

A former paediatric oncologist and molecular biologist with experience in academia and industry, Perry Nisen was senior vice-president for science and innovation at GlaxoSmithKline in 2014 before becoming chief executive at the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute in La Jolla, California. He discusses the challenges facing drug discovery in the era of big data.

Collaboration and competition are spurring on major '-omic' projects.

Wearable sensors and smartphones are providing a flood of information and empowering population-wide studies.

Precision medicine demands precise matching of deep genomic and phenotypic models — and the deeper you go, the more you know.