The BREAST Stamp Follow-up

Researchers in the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG), Integrative Tumor Epidemiology Branch (ITEB) conducted the study “The Breast Radiology Evaluation and Study of Tissues (BREAST) Stamp Project” over 10 years ago in collaboration with the VBCSS at the University of Vermont. With the goal of investigating the molecular pathology and biology of mammographic density and other breast cancer risk factors, this molecular epidemiological study enrolled women aged 40-65 years who underwent diagnostic, image-guided breast biopsy following an abnormal breast imaging exam between October 2007 and June 2010. The study collected data, mammograms, and biospecimens, including breast biopsies, during study enrollment.

During the last 10 years, there has been an extensive detailed characterization of the mammograms and breast biopsies. This follow-up study seeks to perform a transcriptomic and microenvironmental characterization of benign breast lesions in relation to breast cancer risk factors, risk, and progression. The objective of this study is to expand the BREAST Stamp Project dataset through two main ways:

  1. Retrieval of updated, coded 10-year follow-up breast cancer diagnosis data for all women who met study eligibility criteria during the BREAST Stamp Project enrollment period (Oct 1, 2007 - June 30, 2010).
  2. Retrieval of coded breast tumor blocks from all Stamp participants who were originally diagnosed with a benign lesion and subsequently developed DCIS or invasive breast cancer over the course of the 10-year follow-up period.

We will examine gene expression and molecular signatures in benign lesions associated with 10-year breast cancer risk as well as investigate conserved and differential molecular and microenvironmental features between precursor lesions and their matched tumors.

Please click here to access publications associated with this study

This project is funded by contract 6648-00-S021 from the National Cancer Institute (NCI).