A new study is exploring the possibility of using breast milk to detect breast cancer in its early stages, with the aim of finding an easier way to diagnose the disease in women during pregnancy and after childbirth.
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Scientists at the University of Manchester are overseeing the study, called "BRACELET-BM," which seeks to determine whether breast milk can detect markers associated with breast cancer earlier than some currently approved blood tests and imaging examinations allow.
The research focuses particularly on pregnancy-related breast cancer, that is, cancer diagnosed during pregnancy or shortly after childbirth, which is often discovered at advanced stages after it has spread, thus limiting the chances of survival.
The study will begin by enrolling 40 breastfeeding women, including 25 in the general risk category and 15 with a family history of breast cancer. Researchers will collect blood and breast milk samples at the Nightingale Centre and St. Mary's Hospital in Manchester, with the aim of establishing the Manchester Biobank of Breast Fluid for use in future research.
Dr. Nicky Floum of the University of Manchester, who is leading the study, said there is an "urgent need to find better and more reliable ways to detect breast cancer in women during and after pregnancy." She added, "We believe that breast milk may provide a unique, non-invasive window into what is happening inside the breast, as we know surprisingly little about the genetic changes in breast milk."
Flom explained that diagnosing pregnancy-related breast cancer is challenging because mammography results during pregnancy and breastfeeding may not be reliable, noting that scientists hope that the discovery of cancer-related DNA in breast milk will lead to the development of a new tool for early detection in the future.
An international study conducted in September 2023 showed that circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) could be detected in breast milk, but scientists have not yet determined the best methods for collecting, processing, and storing samples.
Dr. Florent Molier, who is involved in the study, said that scientists have already been able to identify minute fragments of genetic material in some breast milk samples, adding that "the DNA structure in breast milk is unique."
The team is currently focusing on identifying the best methods for collecting samples, determining whether they can be safely frozen in home freezers, identifying the most appropriate time for collection, and studying factors that may affect the results of the analysis, such as the mother or infant being infected.
In addition to providing blood and breast milk samples, women will participate in questionnaires and interviews to assess the acceptability and ease of application of this approach, in order to determine whether it can be developed in the future into a practical method for early detection of breast cancer.
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