After years of working for a "cure" for breast cancer, researchers have come to realize the enormity of the task. Although therapeutic advances are making it possible for women with advanced breast cancer to live longer, more comfortable lives, scientists still have a long way to go before they fully understand this complex disease. At this year's Society of Surgical Oncology's annual Cancer Symposium, researchers zeroed in on several key areas that could eventually unlock new methods of controlling, and possibly eliminating, this all too pervasive threat.

After years of working for a "cure" for breast cancer, researchers have come to realize the enormity of the task. Although therapeutic advances are making it possible for women with advanced breast cancer to live longer, more comfortable lives, scientists still have a long way to go before they fully understand this complex disease. At this year's Society of Surgical Oncology's annual Cancer Symposium, researchers zeroed in on several key areas that could eventually unlock new methods of controlling, and possibly eliminating, this all too pervasive threat.

Technologies for total joint repair, the backbone of the orthopedics industry, have occupied most of the development resources of orthopedic companies, but there are gaps in the continuum of care when it comes to tendon and ligament repair. ACL reconstruction and rotator cuff repair thus are attractive niches for start-ups, worth anywhere from $500 million to $1 billion. Soft tissue repair expertise is outside the core skill-sets of big ortho, but those companies have been willing to partner and acquire smaller innovative players. Today, the opportunity is even more attractive; sports medicine--the realm of soft tissue repair--enjoys an economic resiliency not seen in total joint replacement. Ligament tears more closely resemble trauma applications, which must be treated as soon as possible.