Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a disease that occurs when malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the breast. There are three main types of invasive breast cancer (cancer that has spread beyond the layer of tissue in which it developed and is growing into surrounding, healthy tissues).

• Invasive ductal carcinoma: Begins in the ducts that carry breast milk and is the most common type of breast cancer (8 in 10 women with breast cancer have this type)
• Invasive lobular carcinoma: Begins in the glands that make breast milk and is less common than invasive ductal carcinoma (1 in 10 women with breast cancer have this type)
• Inflammatory breast cancer: Found in the lymphatic system of the skin of the breast and is an uncommon type of breast cancer (1 percent to 3 percent of all breast cancer diagnoses are inflammatory breast cancer)

In advanced cases, breast cancer cells may spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body via the blood stream or lymph system.

Excluding non-melanoma cancers of the skin, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer among women in the United States. It is estimated that in 2012, there will be 226,870* new cases of invasive breast cancer in women and 2,190* cases in men.

Treatment options for breast cancer vary depending on the stage of the disease, previous treatment, and other medical conditions. Talk with your doctor about what treatment options may be available for you.

*American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts and Figures 2012. Atlanta: American Cancer Society; 2012

Breast Cancer Clinical Trials

The NCI Center for Cancer Research (CCR) conducts clinical trials at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. CCR is currently conducting the following trials for patients with breast cancer. Click on the trials below for additional details, including a summary of key eligibility criteria, study outline, and information on how to contact the principal investigators and their staff directly. For information on a particular trial or to discuss a screening visit, contact a member of the research team listed on the trial’s summary.

If you need further assistance, call our toll-free number at 1-888-NCI-1937 (1-888-624-1937) to be connected to a referral coordinator appropriate for your diagnosis.