Grant Details
Grant Number: |
1R01CA082562-01 Interpret this number |
Primary Investigator: |
Narod, Steven |
Organization: |
University Of Toronto |
Project Title: |
Mammographic Density & Risk of Hereditary Breast Cancer |
Fiscal Year: |
1999 |
Abstract
DESCRIPTION: (Adapted from the Investigator's Abstract) Two of the strongest
risk factors for breast cancer are the presence of a mutation in BRCA1 or
BRCA2, and increased mammographic density. It is estimated that the risk of
early-onset breast cancer is increased by 25-fold in women who carry a
pathogenic mutation in either BRCA1 or BRCA2. It is also estimated that women
who are in the highest quintile of mammographic density experience a five-fold
increase for breast cancer. However, it is not known if the two risk factors
are independent. If so, then women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation who also show
high density patterns on a screening mammogram will form a subgroup at
particularly high risk. It is important to establish the magnitude of this
association if accurate risk estimates are to be given in a clinical setting.
There is considerable interest in identifying intermediate markers of risk for
chemoprevention studies in high-risk women. One potential marker is
mammographic density. However, prior to the acceptance of mammographic density
as a surrogate marker of risk in BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers, it is essential to
establish whether or not this risk factor is relevant for hereditary breast
cancer. The present study is a case-control study of 120 hereditary breast
cancer cases and 120 unaffected age-matched carrier controls. Screening
mammograms performed prior to the occurrence of breast cancer in the case will
be evaluated for mammographic density and compared with those of the controls.
Relative risks for mammographic density will be estimated by degree of
mammographic density.
Publications
None