This project aims to investigate the role of MMA in breast cancer. To this end, we will measure MMA on serum samples collected at the time of breast cancer diagnosis, to investigate the role of MMA in predicting long-term recurrence risk, response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and its association with age and clinical frailty.

This project aims to investigate the role of MMA in breast cancer. To this end, we will measure MMA on serum samples collected at the time of breast cancer diagnosis, to investigate the role of MMA in predicting long-term recurrence risk, response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and its association with age and clinical frailty. If the role of baseline serum MMA in therapy resistance and/or metastasis is confirmed, our study could be further extended by evaluating SOX4 expression in the tumor tissues (SOX4 is activated by MMA, and SOX4 induces EMT (epithelial to mesenchymal transition) and the metastasis process.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Female patients older than 18 years at diagnosis.
2. First diagnosis of invasive breast cancer.
3. All pathological parameters are available to identify histological subtype according to standard procedures.
4. Availability of frozen serum samples at diagnosis.
5. Voluntarily signed Informed Consent obtained before blood drawing for biobanking was performed.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Pregnant at diagnosis.
2. stage 0 disease (in situ).
3. Bilateral BC at diagnosis or multifocal unilateral BC with different histology.
4. Other subtypes than Invasive ductal carcinoma.
5. Prior breast cancer.

patients with breast cancer admitted into University of Hospital, Leuven, from 2003 to 2015.