Multi-Institutional Breast Cancer Epidemiologic and Outcomes Project
Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer among women among women in both developing and developed world. However data on management of this disease are obtained from studies conducted on primarily Caucasian cohorts within North America and Europe with the assumption that breast cancer regardless of country of origin and ethnicity is the same. Thus a number of issues are important. First an epidemiological assessment of the clinical and pathological characteristics of breast tumors and associated survival outcomes within populations of different countries is important. Second a comparative assessment of these parameters with that of the population of North America will give insight into important differences (if any) across these cohorts. This will be especially important as it would give an indication as to whether North American implemented guidelines have provided the same benefit. Finally an assessment of the rate of delay (if any) in implementation of newer efficacious drugs into the treatment paradigm of patients with breast cancer in different countries would provide valuable information relevant to both assessment of information obtained from the comparison of survival outcomes across the population groups as well as provide information about important deficiencies (if any) in established health policy. Thus, using data derived from cohorts of patients with breast cancer treated in different countries participating in this study (including the Middle East and Asia), the purpose of this study is to assess clinical and pathological characteristics and survival outcomes of breast cancer among women diagnosed in these regions and to compare it to those of women in North America. The analysis of treatment and outcomes data can highlight shortcomings in the quality of care (if any) and evolution in the treatment practice in the various region. The results of the analyses will also serve as essential input into updating individual organization’s practice guidelines.