Increased expression of the inflammatory protein YKL-40 in precancers of the breast.

Serum levels of YKL-40 have been associated with inflammatory diseases and breast cancer. Our purpose was to determine if YKL-40 in breast tissue, nipple aspirate fluid (NAF) and serum is (i) concentrated in NAF compared to matched serum, (ii) increased in the NAF, serum or tissue of women with biopsy proven precancer or cancer compared to healthy women and (iii) influenced by menopausal status. 118 women (61 healthy subjects, 10 with precancer and 47 with breast cancer) aged 17-95 years provided NAF with or without serum samples for analysis.

Prospective multicenter trial to determine the feasibility of collection and predictive ability of breast fluid analysis in postmenopausal women receiving SERMs.

We conducted a prospective ancillary study to the study of tamoxifen and raloxifene (STAR) trial involving 4 institutions to determine: (1) our ability to collect nipple aspirate fluid (NAF) in postmenopausal women taking medication to decrease breast proliferation and (2) NAF biomarkers associated with breast cancer. NAF was collected before and 6 months after starting treatment. Three biomarkers, cytology, fluid volume, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA), were analyzed.

Celecoxib decreases prostaglandin E2 concentrations in nipple aspirate fluid from high risk postmenopausal women and women with breast cancer.

Background: Celecoxib inhibits PGE2 production in cancerous tissue. We previously reported that PGE2 levels in nipple aspirate fluid (NAF) and plasma were not decreased in women at increased breast cancer risk who received celecoxib 200 mg twice daily (bid). The endpoints of the current study were to determine if a short course of celecoxib 400 mg bid would decrease PGE2 levels in women 1) at increased breast cancer risk, and 2) with established breast cancer.

Lack of effect of celecoxib on prostaglandin E2 concentrations in nipple aspirate fluid from women at increased risk of breast cancer.

Background: Cyclooxygenase enzymes (COX-1, COX-2, and COX-3) convert arachidonic acid to prostaglandins, prostacyclins, thromboxanes, and other hydroxy fatty acids. Among these, prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) has tumor growth-promoting activity. The COX-2 isoform is the primary enzyme involved in PGE(2) production in cancerous tissue.

The association of bloody nipple discharge with breast pathology.

Background: It is believed that bloody spontaneous nipple discharge (SND) portends a greater chance of malignancy than nonbloody discharge, and that cytologic evaluation of SND assists in treatment planning. Our aims were to assess (1) the pathology of women with/without SND who require diagnostic breast surgery, (2) whether bloody SND is associated with a different spectrum of pathologic findings than nonbloody, and (3) whether SND cytology is influenced by pathologic findings.

Methods: One hundred seventy-five women who underwent breast operation were enrolled.

Ductoscopic cytology to detect breast cancer.

Purpose: Fiberoptic ductoscopy allows direct visualization of the breast ductal lumen, providing a targeted approach to the diagnosis of intraductal disease. The purpose of this prospective study was to determine whether (1) endoscopic evaluation of the breast could be reliably performed, and (2) ductoscopic data (intraductal distance traveled, visual observations, epithelial and foam cell quantity, cytology) predict whether a woman has breast cancer.

Patients And Methods: Ductoscopic information was collected on intraductal distance traveled, visual observations, epithelial and foam cell quantity, and cytology.