Abstract
To evaluate the feasibility of nipple aspiration and to identify intermediate markers of breast cancer risk, nipple aspirate fluid (NAF) was collected from 177 subjects using a modified breast pump. The first 33 subjects demonstrated that we could obtain NAF quickly, reliably and repeatedly. Specimens from the remaining 144 subjects were collected to evaluate promising cellular biomarkers. NAF was obtained in 167 out of 177 (94%) subjects overall and in 99% of the 144 most recent subjects. Sufficient NAF was obtained to evaluate cytology in 160 out of 167 (96%) cases and specimens were sufficiently cellular to analyse DNA markers in 53% of cases. Among the last 144 subjects, menopausal status did not influence the ability to obtain NAF. NAF cytology correlated with increased breast cancer risk (P = 0.002). Using computerized image analysis of NAF epithelial cells, DNA index (P = 0.0002), percentage of cells in G2M (P = 0.05) and percentage of cells with hypertetraploidy (P = 0.002) increased as cytology became more abnormal. Our data indicate that NAF can be obtained in essentially all eligible subjects; that breast epithelial cells are evaluable in > 95% of NAF samples for cytology and in over half of NAF samples for DNA index (ploidy) and cell cycle analysis; and that abnormal NAF cytology correlates with increased breast cancer risk. This suggests that biomarkers identified in nipple aspirate fluid may prove useful either as an adjunct to currently accepted breast cancer screening methods, or to evaluate response to a chemopreventive agent.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 24 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $10.79 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sauter, E., Ross, E., Daly, M. et al. Nipple aspirate fluid: a promising non-invasive method to identify cellular markers of breast cancer risk. Br J Cancer 76, 494–501 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1997.415
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1997.415
This article is cited by
-
The changing microRNA landscape by color and cloudiness: a cautionary tale for nipple aspirate fluid biomarker analysis
Cellular Oncology (2021)
-
Evaluation of nipple aspirate fluid as a diagnostic tool for early detection of breast cancer
Clinical Proteomics (2018)
-
The role of background diet on the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid supplementation in healthy pre-menopausal women: a randomized, cross-over, controlled study
Lipids in Health and Disease (2016)
-
CEA in breast ductal secretions as a promising biomarker for the diagnosis of breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Breast Cancer (2016)
-
Expression of epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factor-β1 and adiponectin in nipple aspirate fluid and plasma of pre and post-menopausal women
Biomarker Research (2013)