Research Article For reprint orders, please contact: reprints@futuremedicine.com The Shiraz Breast Cancer Registry (SBCR): study design and primary reports Abdolrasoul Talei 1 , Sedigheh Tahmasebi 1 , Majid Akrami* ,1 , Vahid Zangouri 2 , Abbas Rezaianzadeh 1 , Peyman Arasteh** ,1 , Tannaz Eghbali 1 & Sara Hosseini 1 1 Breast Diseases Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran 2 Surgical Oncology Division, General Surgery Department, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran *Author for correspondence: Tel.: +989 1731 16280; akramimd@yahoo.com **Author for correspondence: Tel.: +989 1744 63603; peyman.arasteh@yahoo.com Aim: This is a description of the largest breast cancer (BC) registry in Iran, termed the Shiraz Breast Cancer Registry (SBCR). Methods: Data on baseline and clinical characteristics, socioeconomic status, imaging, physical examination, histopathology, treatment and prognosis have been recorded for each individual. Results: Overall, 5937 were included in the report. Mean age of frst presentation was 49.05 ± 11.69 years. Mean tumor size was 2.78 ± 1.76 cm. Most patients had stage 2 (46.9%) and 3 (25.5%) BCs, respectively. Most common type of BC was invasive ductal carcinoma (83.3%), followed by medullary carcinoma (3.8%). Overall, 12.9% were triple negative (HER2-, ER- and PR-). Conclusion: The study provides an overview on the status of BC’s in Iran and a wide opportunity for future studies. First draft submitted: 17 May 2018; Accepted for publication: 10 August 2018; Published online: 30 October 2018 Keywords: breast cancer • epidemiology • Iran • protocol • registry Worldwide, 1.7 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer (BC) only in 2012, and one in every four cancers among women is considered to be BC [1]. Countries like China, Brazil and India, which are among the fastest developing countries, are expected to be facing epidemics of BC by 2020 [2]. More specifically, in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO), the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer among women is BC [3]. On one hand, developed countries have higher incidence rates of BC, on the other hand less developed countries have higher mortality rates [4]. In western countries, the incidence rates of BC are expected to have reached a plateau or to have even decreased during the past years, which shows correct prevention and screening programs that have been applied in these countries [5,6], meanwhile incidence is reported to be increasing in Asia with a twofold higher rate than that of other regions in the world [7,8]. Environmental factors, life style changes, physical activity and dietary intake have all been considered to be factors that have changed BC patterns in recent years. As westernization of Asian countries is occurring, it can be estimated that in the near future higher rates of BC will be seen in Asia compared with that of western countries [8]. Similar to that of other regions of Asia, recent reports from Iran indicate an increase in the incidence rates of BC [9]. Studies evaluating the condition of BC in Iran have been scarce and almost all studies have been in the context of retrospective studies without follow-ups, providing weak evidence for correct evaluation of disease status in the country. In this study we aimed to describe the design and establishment of one of the largest BC registries in Iran and the middle-east, termed the Shiraz Breast Cancer Registry (SBCR). Patients & methods Study protocol & design The Shiraz Breast Clinic affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran, which was named the Shiraz Breast Disease Research Center in 2012, has been operating as a center for diagnosis and treatment of BC since 1995 in Motahhari medical care center, Shiraz, Iran. Since 2005 the center has officially started its registration Per. Med. (Epub ahead of print) ISSN 1741-0541 10.2217/pme-2018-0047 C  2018 Future Medicine Ltd