John M.S. Bartlett, PhD

2012-2013 BCRF Project:
(made possible by generous support from Play for P.I.N.K.)
On behalf of Breast International Group (BIG) and The North American Breast Cancer Groups (NABCG)
Co-Investigators: Fatima Cardoso, MD, Champalimaud Cancer Center, Lisbon, Portugal; Peggy L. Porter, MD, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA; and Sharon Giordano, MD, MPH, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Due to the low incidence of male breast cancer, international cooperation is necessary to undertake relevant projects with potential clinical impact. With the support of BCRF, the Male Breast Cancer International Registration and Biologic Characterization Program has been launched as a joint effort between the Breast International Group (BIG) and the North American Breast Cancer Groups (NABCG) and coordinated by the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC). In the first part of this program, clinical data and tumor samples from about 1,500 male breast cancer cases are being collected. Accrual to these studies is happening rapidly, and over 400 patients have registered. This is the largest study on male breast cancer to date. The pathology analysis of these tumor samples in the central labs will lead to a better understanding of the biological characteristics of this disease and to the identification of important potential prognostic (indicative of the good or bad outcome of the disease) and predictive (indicative of probability of response to certain therapies) markers. The second part of this program, a prospective registry, is about to be launched.

Mid-year Progress: To date, 700 patients registered for this study, which represents the largest study of male breast cancer ever undertaken. The pathology analysis of these tumor samples in the central labs will begin when all samples are received and will lead to a better understanding of the biological characteristics of this disease and to the identification of important potential prognostic (indicative of the good or bad outcome of the disease) and predictive (indicative of probability of response to certain therapies) markers. The second part of this program, a prospective registry, is being launched.