Some women can survive for a long time with little treatment, whilst others succumb quickly despite extensive therapy

William Miller Edinburgh Breast Research Group

It will examine frozen tissue samples from almost 600 women who were diagnosed with the disease between 1980 and 1993.

Researchers will look at whether the level of hormone and damaging agents are higher in breast tumours from women who live in socially deprived areas.

The tumour analyses will be related to details of the women's social background, their treatment and whether the disease has returned.

Those involved with the study believe its strength will be in the fact that the 600 women, from varying socio-economic backgrounds, were all treated at the same centre, the Edinburgh Breast Unit.

It is hoped the results will offer a better understanding of why social status affects the behaviour of breast cancer.

If the factors associated with class can be identified, this could lead to measures which will increase the survival and recovery chances of socially deprived women.

Reverse phenomenon

William Miller, professor of experimental oncology at the Edinburgh Breast Research Group, said: "Breast cancer is a disease which has a very variable behaviour.

"Some women can survive for a long time with little treatment, whilst others succumb quickly despite extensive therapy.

"An important factor influencing outcome is the extent of tumour spread, but even women who apparently have the same extent of disease may survive for different lengths of time.

"Other factors are clearly involved including social background; women coming from deprived areas doing less well than those who are more affluent."

He added: "It has been known and accepted for some time that women from more affluent backgrounds are more at risk of developing this disease.

"However, less well documented is the 'reverse phenomenon', where, once diagnosed, more affluent women do better than the socially deprived."