Tests for Breast Cancer:

  • Acueityductoscopyis apatented optical system and ductoscope, about the size of a pencil tip, enable physicians to look through the nipple directly into the milk ducts -- areas previously inaccessible to medical intervention -- where 85% of breast cancer develops. Theirsystem of microendoscopes, coupled with patented OptiCueTMoptical technology results in large, clear and sharp video images of the mammary duct system, with unprecedented depth of field perception and detects lesions as small as 0.2 mm in diameter (50 times more sensitive than a standard mammogram). Go to more information.
  • Amas test(see above): This test can be the first choice to check for breast cancer. The AMAS test detects malignant growth only (not benign tumors) and is more sensitive than mammograms. If the AMAS is positive, further tests are warranted as the AMAS doesn't indicate Where the cancer is located, only that there is cancer within the body. In addition, the AMAS test can be used to follow breast cancer patients who are in remission, since the AMAS returns to normal within 3 months after the breast tumor (and metastases, if present) are removed or eradicated.

AMAS - Anti-malignin antibody screen testis designed to pick up cancers well in advance of other signs and symptoms, months before conventional medical tests can detect it. However, for advanced cancer, if the antimalignin antibody is wiped out, the test won't work. For this, other types of testing is recommended. We have also heard of a few breast cancer patients have received a false negative on this test. Again, it is important not to rely on any one test. Oncolab will send a free test kit for you to take to your doctor. The test runs $125 in addition to your doctor's office charges for drawing blood. Call 1-800-9CATest for a test kit and information.

  • Cancer Marker Tests -CA 15.3 and CA125 (above).

Cancer Marker Tests:These are immunological methods - cancer markers that are produced as cancer grows and are detectable even before it reaches a size big enough for detection by other methods. This early detection system is vital for early medical intervention that significantly improves the chances of recovery. these markers, which include:

CA 15.3values are often elevated in patients with breast cancers. When there is a history of cancer among family members, patients may be advised to also do a breast mammogram. Besides breast cancer, other non-malignant conditions (eg. cirrhosis, benign diseases of ovaries & breast) have also been known to cause elevated CA 15.3 levels.

CA125has become a widely used tumor marker which is measured most often in women with cancers of the reproductive system including the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries. Other cancers that may cause abnormal CA125 levels include cancer of the pancreas, lungs, breast and colon. However, CA125/CA125-II can be elevated during menstruation, pregnancy or in individuals with ovarian cysts, pericarditis, hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver or peritonitis, an infection of the lining of the abdomen, and even in 1-2% of healthy individuals. Once a cancer is diagnosed, CA125/CA125-II levels may prove to be an effective indicator of the effectiveness of cancer treatment. A declining CA125/CA125-II value may indicate a good response to treatment and a favorable prognosis. Persistently rising CA125/CA125-II levels may be associated with a growing tumor, presence of tumor on the peritoneum that lines the abdomen or a recurrence of a previously treated tumor. Additional evaluation is necessary to make such determinations. CA 125-II, an improved version of the original CA 125 assay, is now commercially available. Ask your doctor or contact Life Extension Foundation at

  • DR-70 is asimple blood test - (See above).

DR-70 is asimple blood test that screens for 13 different cancers at the same time. It is highly specific and catches cancer long before you would suspect anything was amiss. It runs about $100. Cancers that can be detected by the test are of the lung, colon, breast, stomach, liver, rectum, ovary, cervix, esophagus, thyroid, and pancreas, and trophoblast and malignant lymphoma. AMDL has also received clearance from the FDA to market the PyloriProbe™ test, which can detect the presence of Helicobacter Pylori in the stomach, the primary cause of ulcers and a potential cause of stomach cancer. For more info on the test, contact AMDL Inc., in Tustin, California by calling 714-505-4460, or email them at:, or go to their website at We are attempting to get information on the accuracy of this test.

  • Ductallavageis a new test similar to the Pap smear, and was developed by Dr. Susan Love. It is a simple blood test and an infrared imaging system that samples the lining of ducts of the breast to see what the cells are doing and to detect precancerous abnormalities or cancer cells. The procedure has been dubbed "Pap smear for the breast" because, like the test for cervical cancer, it is a non-surgical approach to identifying abnormal cells, potentially making it possible to find them when they are just thinking about becoming cancer.
  • Mammography/Thermography- Mammograms can detect many breast cancers, but there is concern over false results and the hazards of radiation exposure that result from the tests. There are two new forms of mammography that are making news:Computed Tomography Laser Mammographyand Full Field Digital Mammography.
    The CTLM-Computed Tomography Laser Mammography system uses state-of-the-art laser technology, a special array of detectors and proprietary computed algorithms. The CTLM®system does not expose the patient to ionizing radiation or require breast compression. This approach is awaiting FDA approval.
    Digital mammography still uses low energy x-rays that pass through the breast exactly like conventional mammograms but are recorded by means of an electronic digital detector instead of the film. This electronic image can be displayed on a video monitor like a TV or printed onto film. The radiologist can manipulate the digital mammogram electronically to magnify an area, change contrast, or alter the brightness.
  • Another test being developed is ablood test to detect a protein markerfor breast cancer. The test apparently can pick up cancerous tumors and pre-cancerous conditions. It is awaiting FDA approval.
  • Thermographycan determine precancerous changes at an earlier, and theoretically more treatable, stage—months or even years before those changes would be felt as a lump or be visible on a mammogram, and all without radiation. The While mammography relies primarily on finding the physical tumor, thermography uses thermal imaging which detects new blood vessels and chemical changes associated with a tumor’s genesis and growth. For more information, go to the section on Thermography above. The test, however, may not be approved by your insurance as it is still considered controversial.For for a list of places that offer go to ourbreast thermographypage.
  • T/Tn Antigen Test (see below)

T/Tn Antigen Testdeveloped by Dr. Georg Springer can detect the majority of cancers before any biopsy can pick up the presence of cancer. The T and Tn antigens are proteins on the surface of blood and skin cells and can be identified by the immune system antibodies. The concentration of these antigens vary depending on the cancer type and stage. A skin prick can predict or indicate the likely development of cancers, even 6-10 years in advance of other tests. The test appears to successfully diagnosis about 94% of lung cancers and 80% of breast cancers. More information about the test can be obtained by calling the Chicago Medical School at (847) 578-3435.

  • Ultrasound or sonogramcan be used to determine whether a lump is a cyst (containing fluid) or a solid mass and to precisely locate the position of a known tumor. The test is safe and painless, and uses no radiation.
  • Other Imaging Methods:
    A number of other imaging methods are now available for detecting breast cancer. At present, they are used mainly in research studies, and sometimes to get more information about a tumor found by another method. Each of these new methods generates a computerized image that the doctor can analyze for the presence of an abnormal breast lump. These include:
    Scintigraphy [sin-TOG-ra-fee]
    Also called scintimammography, this test uses a special camera to show where a tracer (a radioactive chemical) has adhered to a tumor. A scanner is then used to see if the breast lump has picked up more of the radioactive material than the rest of the breast tissue.Dr. Flemingin Omaha has been using this approach. There are also clinical trials for this approach.
    MRI
    A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine uses a large magnet and radio waves to measure the electromagnetic signals your body naturally gives off. It makes precise images of the inside of the body, including tissue and fluids. MRI can also be used to see if a silicone breast implant has leaked or ruptured.
    PET scan
    Cancer cells grow faster than other cells, so they use up energy faster, too. To measure how fast glucose (the body's fuel) is being used, a tracer (radioactive glucose) is injected into the body and scanned with a positron emission tomography (PET) machine. The PET machine detects how fast the glucose is being used. If it is being used up faster in certain places, it may indicate the presence of a cancerous tumor.
  • Mayo Clinic researchersare working on a new imaging test calledmagnetic resonance (MR) elastography. This test uses a combination of sound waves and MRI to evaluate the mechanical properties of tissues within the breast. "Conventional MRI is very sensitive for detecting breast cancer, but unfortunately there are too many false positives," Dr. Ehman says. "The goal of our research is to determine whether we can use this new MR elastography technique to improve the accuracy of MRI for breast cancer diagnosis, thereby reducing the need for biopsies." In addition, mammography does not work as well for women with dense breasts, those who have had lumpectomies or premenopausal women,. The combination of MRI and MR elastography could be used as an additional screening tool.
  • Additional Tests to see if cancer has spread:
    To find out if cancer has spread, additional tests may need to be performed to see if the cancer has spread to other organs or the bones. Some doctors will do x-rays, blood tests, CATs or MRIs, and bone scans. If one does not want biopsies of the lymph nodes, some believe the Pet or CT scan is a good alternative. In addition, biopsies can be used to see if a lump is cancerous or if it has spread to the lymph nodes. A new form of biopsy is the Mammotome® Breast Biopsy System.
  • Mammotome® Breast Biopsy Systemis an image guided procedure (stereotactic or ultrasound) that helps physicians locate breast abnormalities and obtain tissue samples for diagnosis.Unlike other biopsy methods, the Mammotome is capable of sampling a variety of breast abnormalities with just one small incision and requires no sutures. However, it still uses x-rays to help guide the procedure.Go to more information. (Note: Because there is always the possibility of the cancer spreading, we still recommend less invasive approaches above.)

RESOURCE:

Blood Marker Tests

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Page last modified on: May 17, 2010

Your doctor may order blood tests for cancer/tumor markers to detect cancer activity in the body. Proteins and circulating tumor cells are two types of markers that can be measured. Acancer tumoroften produces a specific protein in the blood that serves as a marker for the cancer. Circulating tumor cells are cells that break off from the cancer and move into the blood stream. Protein markers and circulating tumor cells can be measured with simple blood tests.

Blood marker tests may be done before treatment, to help diagnose the breast cancer and determine whether it's moved to other parts of the body; during treatment, to assess whether the cancer is responding; and after treatment, to see if the cancer has come back (recurrence).

Examples of your doctor may test for include:

  • CA 15.3:used to find breast and ovarian cancers
  • TRU-QUANTandCA 27.29:may mean that breast cancer is present
  • CA125:may signal ovarian cancer, ovarian cancer recurrence, and breast cancer recurrence
  • CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen):a marker for the presence of colon, lung, and liver cancers. This marker may be used to determine if the breast cancer has traveled to other areas of the body.
  • Circulating tumor cells:cells that break off from the cancer and move into the blood stream. High circulating tumor cell counts may indicate that the cancer is growing. The CellSearch test has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to monitor circulating tumor cells in women diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer.

Some doctors use marker test results as early indicators of breast cancer progression (the cancer getting worse) or recurrence. They may use this information to make decisions about when to change therapies — if current treatment does not appear to be working — or to start treatment for recurrence. If you have an elevated marker, your doctor may check that marker periodically to assess your response to chemotherapy or other treatments.

While breast cancer blood marker tests are promising, they're not absolutely conclusive. When a breast cancer blood marker testcomes backnegative, it doesn't necessarily mean you're free and clear of breast cancer.And a positive result doesn'talways mean that the cancer is growing. These tests may help with diagnosis,but using cancer marker teststo find metastatic breast cancer hasn't helped improve survival yet.

When deciding if you should gettested for breast cancer blood markers, there are some things you may want to consider:

  • cost — the tests can be expensive
  • anxiety — not justfrom an elevated blood marker, but by all the testsyou may need to find out what's causing the marker to go up

Talk to your doctor about the possible benefits and risks of blood marker testing in yourunique situation.

RESOURCE:

Breast Cancer

Overview|Signs & Symptoms|Testing|Prevention|Early Detection|Treatment|Related Pages

Testing

The goals of breast cancer testing are to identify genetic risk in high risk patients, detect and diagnose breast cancer in its earliest stages, determine how far it has spread, evaluate the cancer’s characteristics in order to guide treatment, monitor the effectiveness of treatment, and monitor the woman over time to detect and address any cancer recurrences. The table below summarizes various breast cancer tests. Detailed discussions of the tests follow the table.

Expand TableTests for Breast Cancer

TEST / DIAGNOSIS, PROGNOSIS, TREATMENT / TEST SAMPLE
Her 2/neu / Patients with increased levels respond well to Herceptin and have a good prognosis. / Tissue
Estrogen Receptor/
Progesterone Receptor / Increased levels suggest a good prognosis in response to anti-hormone therapy. / Tissue
CA15-3/ CA27.29 / Elevated blood levels of cancer antigens may indicate recurrence of cancer. / Blood
BRACA-1 / BRACA-2 / Genetic markers, if present, suggest an 80% likelihood of breast cancer occurrence. / Blood
Oncotype DX / May assist in determining risk of recurrence and predict who will benefit from hormone therapy or chemotherapy. / Tissue
MammaPrint(Agendia) / May assist in determining whether a patient is at risk for possible metastasis of cancer. / Tissue
DNA Ploidy / Determines rate of tumor cell growth (S phase) which, if elevated, suggests poor prognosis. May require chemotherapy. / Tissue
Ki-67 Antigen / Elevated levels measure rapid tumor cell growth, thus suggests a poor prognosis. / Tissue
Ductallavage / Presence of abnormal cytology (abnormal looking cells) may be a useful screening tool in identifying cancer. / N/A
Mammogram / Highly-sensitive digital X-ray technology that may detect small lumps that otherwise would not be detected through self-exam. / N/A

Laboratory Tests

Laboratory tests for breast cancer can be broken down into groups, based on the purpose of testing:

  • To diagnose:cytology- a microscopic examination of tumor cells obtained through fine needleaspirationand surgical pathology - a microscopic examination of tissue sampling viabiopsy
  • To determine treatment options: evaluation of the tumor'sHER-2/neugeneamplificationstatus andestrogen and progesterone receptor status
  • To monitor treatment and for recurrence: measurement ofCA 15-3or CA 27.29 in the blood
  • To determine genetic risk in high risk patients: blood testing for mutations that may be present in theBRCA-1 and BRCA-2genes

Some tests for breast cancer are performed on the patient's blood; others are done on a sample of cells or the tumor tissue.

Cytology and surgical pathology

When a radiologist detects a suspicious area, such ascalcificationsor anon-palpablemass on amammogram, or if a lump has been found during a clinical or self-exam (see Non-Laboratory Tests below), a doctor will frequently order a needle or surgical biopsy or a fine needle aspiration. In each case, a small sample of tissue is taken from the suspicious area of the breast so that a pathologist can examine the cells microscopically for signs of cancer. This pathological examination is done to determine whether the lesion isbenignormalignant.

Malignant cells show changes or deviations from normal cells. Signs include changes in the size of cell nuclei and evidence of increased cell division. Pathologists can diagnose cancer based upon the observed changes, determine how abnormal the cells appear, and see whether there is a single type of change or a mixture of changes. These results help guide breast cancer treatment.

Needle aspirations are limited due to the small sample that is obtained. A tissue biopsy is needed to determine if a cancer is early stage or invasive. When a breast cancer is surgically removed (seeTreatment), cells from the tumor and sometimes from adjacent tissue and lymph nodes are examined by the pathologist to help determine how far the cancer has spread.