Research Background: Breast diseases-including cancer, benign tumors, fibrocystic changes, and inflammatory conditions-pose a major global health burden. Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women, while benign disorders also drive morbidity, anxiety, and healthcare use. These conditions share overlapping mechanisms: hormonal regulation, genomic instability, chronic inflammation, metabolic dysregulation, and immune dysfunction. Risk and progression are shaped by genetic susceptibility, molecular perturbations, environmental exposures, and behavioral factors . Distinct cancer subtypes exhibit unique yet intersecting pathways, particularly in aging, endocrine regulation, and immune surveillance.
Aims and Objectives:
1.Identify genetic variants and multi-omics biomarkers linked to onset, progression, and prognosis.
2.Integrate genomic, proteomic, metabolomic, and imaging data to uncover pathways and heterogeneity.
3.Assess causal effects of modifiable lifestyle and environmental factors. Investigate multimorbidity and shared molecular mechanisms.
Scientific Rationale: Breast diseases interact biologically and clinically with systemic health. Metabolic dysfunction and obesity may promote tumorigenesis, while cardiovascular and cognitive impairments are common among survivors. Benign conditions, though distinct, share hormonal and inflammatory pathways with malignancies. The UK Biobank offers a unique platform with large-scale multi-omics, breast and whole-body imaging, biomarker panels, lifestyle metrics, environmental exposures, and longitudinal outcomes.
By integrating multi-omics with behavioral and environmental data, we aim to build predictive models, identify modifiable pathways, and validate causal relationships. This research will advance early risk stratification, personalized prevention, and targeted interventions, contributing to integrated disease control and improved population health.