Clinical and Biological Study of Early-onset Breast Cancer and the Influence of the Reproductive Cycle on the Aggressiveness of the Disease

The incidence of breast cancer is increasing, particularly among young women. Cancers in young women are associated with a poor prognosis. The causes remain poorly understood.

Among young patients, some are nulliparous and others have reported cancer during or after pregnancy. Preliminary studies suggest that breast tissue remodeling associated with pregnancy may influence the emergence and aggressiveness of early-onset cancers. However, breastfeeding and pregnancy are described as protective factors against the onset of breast cancer. The precise biology depending on age and the time between pregnancy and breast cancer is still poorly understood.

The aim of our study is to increase our knowledge of cancer in young women and its potential links to pregnancy and breastfeeding. Information on the contraceptive habits and pregnancies of the patients in the study will be collected, and molecular and cellular analyses will be performed on frozen tumor samples as well as samples fixed and embedded in paraffin.