OBJECTIVES:
* To profile serum glycan biomarkers in women with metastatic stage IV breast cancer, healthy controls, and patients with noncancer medical illness.
* To determine whether serial serum glycan biomarkers correlate with response of metastatic disease to treatment.
OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study.
Blood is collected from patients with metastatic breast cancer, patients with noncancerous illness, and healthy volunteers. Samples are analyzed for serum glycan biomarkers by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) and Fourier transform ion-cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT ICR MS) methods.
Blood samples are collected every 3 months for up to 18 months from patients with metastatic breast cancer. Patients without cancer have a single sample collected.
