Case-Control Study of Inflammatory Breast Cancer in North Africa

Background: * Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rare, poorly understood and particularly aggressive form of breast cancer. * Three characteristics of IBC tumors their rapid progression, their extensive formation of new blood vessels, and the fact that these characteristics are present from the inception of the tumor make it an ideal model for studying factors associated with tumor aggressiveness. * This study is a collaboration among several institutions in the United States and North Africa that have extensive epidemiological experience and experience with IBC. Objectives: \- To understand what causes certain types of breast conditions, including IBC. Eligibility: \- Women 18 years of age and older with IBC and non-IBC and healthy women volunteers are eligible. Women who have had a previous diagnosis of any kind of breast cancer are excluded. Design: * Participants complete a questionnaire providing information about their background, including medical and reproductive history, family health history and lifestyle habits and undergo the following additional procedures: * Height, weight, hip and chest measurements. * Saliva sample collection to measure biological factors that may be related to breast conditions. * Breast examination and, if permission is given, photographs of affected breast. * Analysis of biopsied tissue for genetic and biochemical factors.

Sex

Female

Minimum age

18 Years

Maximum age

100 Years

* The case-control study will be restricted to women at least 18 years of age. IBC cases will be defined as having any clinical signs of redness, and either edema or peau d' orange characteristic of IBC or evidence of tumor emboli in the dermal lymphatics (at the center in Rabat).

Cases with extensive ulceration of the breast or with breast carcinoma 'en cuirasse' will be excluded from the study, even if erythema is present.

Women with a previous diagnosis of breast cancer will be excluded.

All cancers will be pathologically confirmed with evidence of tumor in either the breast parenchyma or dermal lymphatics based on the diagnostic biopsy.

Cases newly diagnosed and/or treated at study hospitals will be included.