PRECAMA: Molecular Subtypes of Premenopausal Breast Cancer in Latin American Women
PRECAMA is an IARC multicentre population-based breast cancer case–control study based in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Mexico. The collaboration includes the National Institute of Public Health (INSP), Mexico; la Fundación Guanacaste, Costa Rica; the University of Antioquia, Colombia; the University of Chile; Hospital de Câncer de Barretos, Brazil; and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, USA. The objective is to evaluate the distribution of specific molecular breast cancer subtypes and to identify the roles and mechanisms of diet, physical activity, obesity, and metabolic disorders in breast cancer incidence and survival. The goal is to recruit close to 1500 cases and controls in various Latin American countries. A standard protocol has been developed for collection of data and biological and tumour samples. Knowledge of specific risk factors for breast cancer subtypes will enable the targeting of prevention measures.
SABC: the South Africa Breast Cancer study
The South Africa Breast Cancer (SABC) study is a population-based case–control study established at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, in Soweto, South Africa, to study the etiology of breast cancer in black South African women. A total of 399 women with breast cancer and 399 age- and residence-matched controls recruited to the study completed questionnaires on lifestyle, diet, and environmental factors and provided blood and urine specimens, which will be used for research purposes. Tumour samples have been collected, to identify molecular breast cancer subtypes by immunohistochemical analyses. Major collaborators for this study are the University of the Witwatersrand, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, the North-West University in Potchefstroom, and the South African Medical Research Council in Cape Town.
EDSMAR: the Determinants of Breast Cancer in Morocco study
The EDSMAR study is a population-based case–control study initiated to investigate the etiology of breast cancer in North African women. A total of 500 women with breast cancer and 500 age- and residence-matched controls have been recruited at two centres in Rabat and Fez, Morocco. The ultimate goal of the study is to identify modifiable nutritional and lifestyle risk factors for breast cancer in Morocco and to understand the distribution of tumour molecular subtypes in this population. Major collaborators in the project are the Sheikha Fatma Centre for Gynaecological-Mammary Oncology, National Institute of Oncology, Rabat; the Cancer Research Institute, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Hassan II, Fez; and the Lalla Salma Foundation for the Prevention and Treatment of Cancer, Rabat.
