Study of Tumor and Blood Samples From Postmenopausal Women With Primary Breast Cancer Enrolled on Clinical Trial CAN-NCIC-MA27
Study of Tumor and Blood Samples From Postmenopausal Women With Primary Breast Cancer Enrolled on Clinical Trial CAN-NCIC-MA27
RATIONALE: Studying samples of tumor tissue and blood from patients with cancer in the
 laboratory may help doctors learn more about changes that occur in DNA and identify
 biomarkers related to cancer. It may also help doctors predict how patients will respond to
 treatment.

 PURPOSE: This research study is looking at tumor and blood samples from postmenopausal women
 with primary breast cancer enrolled on clinical trial CAN-NCIC-MA27.
OBJECTIVES:

 Primary

 -  To identify genetic variation, as measured by single nucleotide polymorphisms, that is
 associated with musculoskeletal adverse events in specimens from postmenopausal women
 with hormone receptor-positive primary breast cancer receiving adjuvant aromatase
 inhibitors and enrolled on clinical trial CAN-NCIC-MA27.

 OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study.

 DNA from tumor tissue and blood specimens that have been previously collected from patients
 are analyzed for single nucleotide polymorphisms.
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

 -  Histologically or cytologically confirmed invasive breast cancer

 -  Complete resection of primary tumor

 -  Stage I-III (T1-3, N0-3, M0) disease

 -  Enrolled in clinical trial CAN-NCIC-MA27.

 -  No locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer

 -  Hormone receptor status:

 -  Estrogen receptor- or progesterone receptor-positive disease

 PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

 -  Postmenopausal status, defined as one of the following:

 -  At least 60 years old

 -  Age 45-59 years with spontaneous cessation of menses for > 12 months prior to
 chemotherapy or study randomization

 -  Age 45-59 years with cessation of menses for < 12 months or secondary to
 hysterectomy AND a follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) level in the postmenopausal
 range (or > 34.4 IU/L)

 -  Age 45-59 years on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and discontinued HRT at
 diagnosis of breast cancer AND FSH level in the postmenopausal range (or > 34.4
 IU/L)

 -  Bilateral oophorectomy

 PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

 -  See Disease Characteristics