The largest study to investigate the genetics of breast tumours has found what's commonly called breast cancer is actually 10 separate diseases.

Researchers examined breast cancer samples from 2,000 women in the UK and Canada.

But it'll take several years before the findings can be used in hospitals.

Brendan Trembath reports.

BRENDAN TREMBATH: There's understandably a lot of interest in the cancer research just published in the science journal Nature.

JANE VISVADER: Well I think it represents a rather exciting and major step forward.

BRENDAN TREMBATH: Professor Jane Visvader is the lead breast cancer researcher at the Walter and Eliza Institute in Melbourne.

The lead researcher in the overseas study was Cambridge University Professor Carlos Caldas.

He compared cancer to a map of the world. Professor Caldas said tests currently used in hospitals split breast cancer into big groups like continents. He and his fellow researchers have added add more detail to the map.

He said individual countries can now be identified.

The Australian cancer researcher Professor Jane Visvader says that's important.

JANE VISVADER: The discovery of more specific subgroups of breast cancer will actually hold great promise for identifying better, more specific targets and of course tailoring therapies for patients which can only be a good thing in terms of improving patient outcome.

BRENDAN TREMBATH: As too many families know breast cancer can be fatal. But Professor Visvader says more women are beating the disease.

JANE VISVADER: Well I think the survival rates for breast cancer have improved quite dramatically over the last 15 to 20 years due to better therapies and early detection but there is still a huge gap. A large number of women still die from this disease and of course it is the most common cancer to affect women.

BRENDAN TREMBATH: The study published in Nature could have quite an impact.

Dr Helen Zorbas is the chief executive of Cancer Australia.

HELEN ZORBAS: It will alter the way we think about breast cancer and ultimately the way we treat it and predict which patients will benefit most from specific treatments.

BRENDAN TREMBATH: And I take it this study is quite a large study as far as the number of samples that they considered?

HELEN ZORBAS: This study looked at approximately 2,000 breast cancer samples which were frozen and had long term follow up. At this time we really have a fairly limited understanding of the different types of breast cancer and our treatments are fairly uniform compared to the potential that this study provides in providing much more targeted therapies according to the genetic fingerprint of different breast cancer subtypes.

KIM LANDERS: Dr Helen Zorbas from Cancer Australia with Brendan Trembath.