Study Samples and Sampling Technique

The case-control design will be used in this study because of the specific
disease that will be targeted and also there will be only one facility involved. The
subjects for the cases would be Filipino patients from Northern Luzon with
histologically confirmed breast carcinoma who are newly diagnosed with breast
carcinoma or receiving treatment at Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical
Center, Batac, Ilocos Norte and also controls who are healthy and are not suspected
of any malignancy. This will span from June 1, 2015 to October 30, 2015. Genotype
screening would be conducted for the NQO1 gene to the said subjects. The cases
would be age and sex matched with the controls who are in good health and not
suspected of any malignancy, also they should be recruited from the same
geographical area through advertisement of the on-going study. The cases and
control should be natural born Filipinos, who are not product of marriages from
another race. The subjects would be interviewed by their attending physician about
their smoking and drinking habits, their family history regarding cancer and also their
sexual practices. Approximately 5mL of blood will be collected from the cases and
controls as sample for molecular analysis (DNA extraction, Polymerase Chain
Reaction and Electrophoresis tests). This will be stored at -20 C until it is ready for
use. Clinical data (age at cancer diagnosis, tumor site, grade, and stage, lymph and
distant metastases, and treatment received) of the cases will be retrieved from
clinical records and histopathological reports.