RATIONALE: Studying samples of blood from patients with cancer in the laboratory may help doctors learn more about nutrition-related changes that identify biomarkers related to cancer. It may also help doctors predict a woman's risk of developing breast cancer.
PURPOSE: This laboratory study is looking at nutrition-related biomarkers in predicting breast cancer risk in women.
To complete characterization of metabolic serotypes based on the metabolome, and to adapt these profiles for human epidemiological studies. To determine the extent to which metabolic profiles that are reflective of or independent of long-term caloric intake predict breast cancer risk in nested case-control studies. To identify critical serum metabolites.
OUTLINE: Laboratory studies, including metabolome profiling by high performance liquid chromatography; and small molecule identification by mass spectroscopy, are performed on previously collected blood samples.
Confirmed breast cancer that was diagnosed at least 2 years after blood sample collection (case)
No prior diagnosis of cancer Healthy participant (control) Enrolled in the Nurses' Health Study Banked blood samples available Hormone receptor status not specified
