Breast Cancer Biomarkers in Nipple Aspirate Fluid
EMSL Project ID
28291
Abstract
Breast cancer is responsible for ~43,000 deaths per year, a number which could be reduced dramatically by early detection of the disease. Currently, detection of breast cancer relies primarily on physical examination and conventional mammography. While these procedures have improved early detection of breast cancer and thereby decreased mortality, they still result in relatively high rates of false-positive and false-negative diagnoses. In addition, breast cancer prognosis is based on histological examination and is inadequate for assessing micrometastases. Due to this inability to accurately predict the risk of recurrence, 50% or more of breast cancer patients are unnecessarily treated with adjuvant therapy. A more useful and accurate evaluation of breast cancer could be obtained if these current, observation-based methods were supplemented with a molecular assessment. A number of serum proteins are reported to be altered in individuals with breast cancer when compared with healthy individuals. There is not, however, any known circulating protein that is suitable to define the stage of breast cancer or as a general marker for breast cancer, especially in the early stages of this disease. Mammary ductal cells are the cellular origin for 70% to 80% of breast cancer cases. Nipple aspirate fluid (NAF), which is obtained from non-lactating women, contains proteins secreted directly by these ductal cells. As such, we hypothesize that NAF is a concentrated and selective source of protein biomarkers for breast cancer. Proteomic approaches offer an unbiased way to evaluate NAF as a source of biomarkers. Therefore, the goal of this proposal is to characterize the proteome of NAF and identify potential protein biomarkers. To accomplish this goal, we propose to undertake the following specific aim:Aim #1. Identify Potential Protein Biomarkers in Individual NAF Samples from Women with Breast Cancer using Mass Spectrometry.
Project Details
Project type
Exploratory Research
Start Date
2008-01-15
End Date
2008-09-30
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator