Cohort profile: The Singapore Breast Cancer Cohort (SGBCC), a multi-center breast cancer cohort for evaluation of phenotypic risk factors and genetic markers

PLoS One. 2021 Apr 26;16(4):e0250102. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250102. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

This article aims to provide a detailed description of the Singapore Breast Cancer Cohort (SGBCC), an ongoing multi-ethnic cohort established with the overarching goal to identify genetic markers for breast cancer risk, prognosis and treatment response, as well as to understand the ethnic differences in disease risk and outcome in an Asian setting. The cohort comprises of breast cancer patients aged 21 years and above from six public hospitals which diagnose and treat nearly 76% breast cancer cases in Singapore. Self-reported data on sociodemographic and lifestyle, reproductive risk factors, medical history and family history of breast or ovarian cancer is collected using a structured questionnaire. Clinical data on tumour characteristics, and treatment modalities are obtained through medical record. Bio-specimens (blood or saliva) is collected at recruitment. Follow-up on survival information is done through routine linkage with the Registry of Births and Deaths. As of 31 December 2016, 7,768 subjects have been recruited to the study with 76% subjects contributed bio-specimens. The SGBCC provides a valuable platform which offers a unique, large and rich resource for new research ideas on breast cancer related phenotypic risk factors and genetic markers.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Breast / pathology
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / physiopathology*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Genetic Markers
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Middle Aged
  • Ovarian Neoplasms
  • Prognosis
  • Risk Factors
  • Singapore / epidemiology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Substances

  • Genetic Markers

Grants and funding

This work was supported by National University of Singapore Start Up Grant; National Medical Research Council Clinician Scientist Award [grant number NMRC/CSA/0048/2013]; National Medical Research Council Clinician Scientist Award (Senior Investigator Category) [grant number NMRC/CSA-SI/0015/2017]; National University Cancer Institute Singapore Centre Grant Programme [grant numbers NMRC/CG/NCIS/2010, NMRC/CG/012/2013, CGAug16M005]; Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health Programme of Research Seed Funding (Breast Cancer Prevention Programme); and Asian Breast Cancer Research Fund awarded to MH. Partial genotyping and sequencing of the cohort are supported by a National Research Foundation Singapore Fellowship [grant number NRF-NRFF2017-02] awarded to JL. The Multi-Ethnic Cohort (MEC) study is supported by grants from the Ministry of Health, Singapore, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.