THE BREAST AND OVARIAN SURVEILLANCE SERVICE (BOSS) COHORT STUDY

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. The primary aim of this study is to establish a cohort of women with a family history of breast cancer so as to facilitate the translation of early detection techniques from the lab to the clinical setting. Twenty percent of women in the general population have a positive family history of breast cancer(1). Women at an increased risk of cancer are not well represented in population-based cohorts. The management options for both early detection and preventive strategies particularly in these families are extremely limited. This cohort would provide us with a platform to examine the association between novel genetic, molecular, and environmental markers/exposures, and both increased breast cancer and factors such as increased breast density that may be in the breast causal pathway using a case-control design (2). Over the long term we will be able to also measure factors associated with prognosis. Little is known about the etiology of breast density, which is prevalent in women with a family history of breast cancer and is a modifiable risk factor (2-5). Even if it is not causally linked, a decrease in breast density can increase the sensitivity of mammographic detection of early breast lesions, a useful goal in itself. Currently it is being used as an intermediate endpoint in phase II chemoprevention studies. Results from studies arising from this cohort may assist us in identifying factors that along with family history may modify a women risk of increased breast density and breast cancer. Factors that are thought to be in the causal pathway may then be able to be targeted with preventive agents. A secondary aim of this study is to collect blood and risk factor information on women with a family history of ovarian cancer for future studies. Some of these women will also have a family history of breast cancer and come to the high-risk clinic. Therefore, this is an opportunity for us to establish a serum bank in a rare group of women who are also in need of better predictive markers as well as early detection and preventive strategies.