Systems and methods for breast cancer detection and risk assessment
AssigneeAtossa Genetics, Inc.
InventorsJiri Jan Krepinsky, Rudolf Furrer, Ka Sing Yeung
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Abstract
The invention relates to a simple screening test for neoplasia, a precancerous condition, or cancer of the breast. A method is described whereby a breast cancer marker is detected in breast fluid. In a particular embodiment, the method involves treating samples of breast fluids with an aldehyde detecting reagent without any prewashing. The appearance in breast fluids of a marker that is detected by an aldehyde detecting reagent, such as a Schiff's reagent, correlates very well with the disease status of the breast cancer subjects from which the fluids were obtained. Screening test kits are also provided.
Claims14
A method of screening a patient for breast cancer or for elevated breast cancer risk, comprising:
- providing a solid support configured to receive a volume of breast aspirate fluid from the patient;
- wherein the volume of breast aspirate fluid is obtained from a breast duct of a patient;
- wherein the volume of breast aspirate fluid is obtained at least in part by the application of suction within or along the breast of the patient;
- wherein the solid support comprises an aldehyde detecting agent;
- and
- detecting a change in a detectable property produced by contacting the volume of breast aspirate fluid to the aldehyde detecting reagent on the solid support;
- wherein the detection of a change in a detectable property produced by treating the breast fluid with the aldehyde detecting reagent compared to a control is indicative of a patient having breast cancer or elevated breast cancer risk;
- and
- wherein the volume of breast aspirate fluid does not undergo pretreatment or modification before being placed on the solid support.
A method for monitoring the effectiveness of a chemotherapy treatment of a patient with breast cancer, comprising:
- treating a sample of breast fluid secreted from a nipple of a patient undergoing chemotherapy with an aldehyde-detecting reagent;
- detecting a change in a detectable property produced by treating the sample of breast fluid with the aldehyde-detecting reagent;
- wherein the detectable property comprises one or more of:
- color, spectral properties, spectral absorption, fluorescence, chemi-luminescence, mass spectral properties or chromatographic properties;
- wherein the sample of breast fluid is treated directly with the aldehyde-detecting reagent, such that the breast fluid does not undergo pretreatment or modification prior to contacting the aldehyde-detecting reagent;
- and wherein a significant reduction in the detectable property compared to a control is indicative that a chemotherapy treatment is generally effective.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.