New Nonsurgical Early Detection Screening for Breast Cancer

Breast fluid from the nipple can now be screened for breast cancer cells, using a method developed by Sara Sukumar, Ph.D. and Mary Jo Fackler, Ph.D., researchers at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center. The screening method involves collecting fluid from the breast ducts, then separates cells from the fluid, and sorts the cells according to the chemical tags in their DNA. If the cell's DNA contains genes that are breast cancer-related, then they will have molecular changes, which may signal the cells to begin behaving abnormally.
Sukumar and Fackler compared their method with standard pathology, in which breast tissue is examined under a microscope for shapes that are characteristic of breast cancer, and said that since the new screening looks at the molecular level, "This screening method can see what the eye cannot see."
Ductal breast cancer (DCIS) is considered early stage and can effectively be treated. Early detection often results in milder treatment and survival rates are higher.