Breast milk may hold clue for breast cancer

Submitted by shelbydburns Tue 04/05/2011

Four out of five women give birth. Doctors now believe that their breast milk could hold the clues for whether or not they may one day be diagnosed breast cancer. This idea was put forth at the American Association for Cancer Research 102nd Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida this week.

Researchers believe that analyzing the epithelial cells in breast milk may reveal an individual mother’s risk. Epithelial cells are joined together by a connective element called a cell junction. The epithelial cell layer is attached to the underlying connective tissue by a basement membrane which is partly secreted with the epithelial cells.

Since 80% of women give birth and create breast milk, this is an early breast cancer screening opportunity that shouldn’t be missed. Other methods of obtaining breast cells exist, but techniques are invasive and painful. The ease of expressing breast milk would make a test easy to conduct and participate in.

The risk could also be found in women at an earlier age than ever before. Women who currently are not advised to get mammograms or other invasive tests.

More studies are needed to find ways of expanding the gene examination. These studies are currently underway.

Source: University of Massachusetts/Amherst, MedicalNewsToday

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