CBC project
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Molecular and genetic characterisation of contralateral breast cancer (CBC): opportunities for personalised surgery.
IRAS ID
213456
Contact name
Kienan Savage
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Women who develop a breast cancer have a risk of developing a second cancer in their other breast (known as a contralateral breast cancer, or CBC). The relationship between these two tumours is not well understood. More evidence is needed to fully characterise the link between the two in order to assess the risk of developing a CBC for an individual woman who is diagnosed with a primary one sided breast cancer.
Increasing numbers of women are requesting surgery involving removal of both breasts (bilateral mastectomy) for treatment of a one-sided cancer. There is, however, no evidence that this surgery, rather than a removing only the affected breast, improves survival. Additionally, it carries extra risks and complications. This study aims to use tissue from 400 Northern Irish women who have developed breast cancers in both breasts over the last 20 years so that we can study the relationship between the first and second cancer using DNA sequencing and pathological staining techniques. A better understanding of this relationship could help us to identify those women at high versus low risk of developing CBC and thereby offer each individual woman the appropriate surgical treatment for their cancer.
The required tissue samples are currently stored in hospital pathology departments within Northern Ireland. Using DNA sequencing techniques, we will look for changes in the DNA (mutations) that could be the cause of breast cancer development and compare whether women who develop CBC have a particular set of mutations leading to an increased risk when compared with women who did not develop a CBC.
Ultimately, this study will better inform the decision-making process for both patients and surgeons surrounding the clinical care of primary breast cancer and could empower surgeons to offer more personalised surgical management plans for each individual patient with breast cancer.
REC name
HSC REC B
REC reference
16/NI/0186
Date of REC Opinion
20 Sep 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion