Noninvasive Test for Early Breast Cancer

A new painless noninvasive nipple fluid test is designed to detect breast cancer at its early, most treatable stage.

The new test, now in development, identifies a cancer-associated sugar in a sample of nipple aspirate fluid derived from the breast ducts and painlessly expressed through the nipple by a pump. The sample is treated with a series of chemicals that cause a color-change reaction. This color change is measured by a spectrophotometer, producing a quantified result.

The vast majority of breast cancers originate in the ducts. A pilot study conducted at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, USA) demonstrated the ability of the test to distinguish between cancerous and noncancerous breast samples. The findings were reported in the May 2004 issue of the journal Cancer.

The test is cost effective relative to other current screening options and could one day be a front-line test for breast cancer, according to the researchers. Some breast changes that indicate early-stage cancer may not be evident on a mammogram or be picked up by touch. According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is nearly 100% treatable when diagnosed early.

"The early results we have seen with this test are promising, and we are planning additional studies to confirm and expand our findings,” said Dr. Anees Chagpar, assistant professor in the division of surgical oncology at the University of Louisville (KY, USA), who participated in the study.

The test was developed by scientists at International Medical Innovations, Inc. (IMI, Toronto, Canada). The same sugar marker is being used by IMI in new tests for colorectal and lung cancers.




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