Abstract
PURPOSE To elucidate the role of metabolic dysregulation and associated DNA methylation changes on breast cancer risk and aggressive subtypes among Nigerian women. We describe the design and methods of a collaborative molecular epidemiology study of breast cancer in Nigerian hospitals. METHODS The Mechanisms for Novel and Established Risk Factors for Breast Cancer in Women of Nigerian Descent (MEND) study was designed as a matched case-control study of 350 patients, age 18 to 75 years, with newly diagnosed, treatment-naïve breast cancer and 350 age-matched healthy controls from surrounding geographic areas. Patients with breast cancer seen for initial diagnosis at four large tertiary hospitals in southwest Nigeria and one affiliated private hospital were recruited. Healthy female controls were selected from a cohort of 4,000 healthy women recruited as part of the Human Heredity and Health (H3) in Africa Chronic Kidney Disease Case-Control Study in Nigeria. Tumor and adjacent normal tissue, and blood and saliva samples were collected for molecular and epigenetic assays. RESULTS Although recruitment is ongoing, a total of 416 patients have been recruited to date, with tumor and blood samples obtained from at least 310 patients. Data on age-matched (6 6 months) controls have also been obtained and harmonized. Lipid assays for 350 pathologically verified cases and 350 age-matched controls is underway, and pathologic characterization of tumors (including immunohistochemistry for subtyping) is ongoing. Data on DNA methylation for tumors and adjacent normal tissue are expected by the end of the study period. CONCLUSION The MEND study will provide a unique, high-quality source of data to evaluate the contribution of metabolic dysregulation such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome to the biology of breast cancer among Nigerian women and foster collaborative studies relevant for women of African descent globally.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1-9 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Journal of global oncology |
| Volume | 2019 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2019 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Supported by the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Fogarty International Center (Grant K01TW010271, T.A.). We thank the many MEND investigators who contributed substantially to the inception and design of the study. We thank all the patients and families who participated in the MEND study for their vital contribution in advancing the science of cancer in Nigeria and globally. We acknowledge the important contribution of the MEND research nurses: Cordelia Ibeneme (Lagos University Teaching Hospital [LUTH]), Peju Olabanji (Federal Medical Center), Rebecca Israel (LUTH), Esther Akinwale (University College Hospital and Our Lady of Apostle Catholic Church) and Deborah Awodeyi (Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital [OAUTHC]), Wunmi Usinoma (OAUTHC), Wumi Akinwande (OAUTHC); the MEND data manager; the Human Heredity and Health (H) 3Africa Chronic Kidney Disease Case-Control Study data manager; and the nurse patient navigators; nurse aides; resident doctors; and other contributors who helped in many ways to accomplish the study goals.
Funding Information:
Supported by the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Fogarty International Center (Grant K01TW010271, T.A.).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 by American Society of Clinical Oncology
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Oncology
- Cancer Research
