OBJECTIVES:
Primary
* To determine if breast tissue DNA methylation profile and hormone concentration change across follicular and luteal phase, or across menopause, in random fine needle aspiration samples of women with no prior diagnosis or treatment for breast cancer.
* To determine if DNA methylation profile and breast hormone levels correlate with mammographic density, cytomorphology, or Gail risk estimates.
* To develop a high throughput commercial assay for DNA methylation profiling for assessing breast cancer risk.
* To develop a highly sensitive, specific, and novel nanoassay for estradiol and progesterone.
OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study.
Premenopausal women are stratified by menstrual cycle phase (mid-follicular \[day 5-10\] vs mid-luteal \[day 20-25\]), based on an adjusted 28-day cycle.
Patients undergo breast density measurement by digital mammography. Blood samples are obtained and analyzed for estradiol, progesterone, and follicle-stimulating hormone measurements, to define menstrual/menopausal status, and for DNA extraction. Patients also undergo random fine needle aspiration. Biopsy material from aspiration is analyzed for cytomorphology, steroid radioimmunoassay (RIA), steroid nanoassay, and DNA methylation studies (via polymerase chain reaction). The aspiration samples are also analyzed for estradiol and progesterone levels using high-pressure liquid chromatography and RIA.
