Proteomics Research of Breast Cancer Markers in Interstitial Fluid and Serum

The current study is a case control study involving comparisons of tissue interstitial fluid
from breast cancer and adjacent non-cancerous tissue as well as that from benign breast
lesion and its adjacent non-diseased tissue for a distinguishable breast cancer profile. The
purpose of this research is to collect fresh breast nodule/cancer and surrounding
non-cancerous tissue for proteomic studies of the interstitial fluid to identify a profile
distinguishing breast cancer which will also permit future research on stored interstitial
fluid, blood or tissue samples. Specific markers identified from interstitial fluid study
will be investigated in blood samples to develop serum markers for breast cancer diagnosis
and prognosis. Additionally, we will perform both prospective and retrospective research on
breast cancer involving clinical, demographic, epidemiologic information, treatment,
follow-up and outcomes on breast nodule/cancer cases collected.