Breast cancer's fingerprint detectable in blood

A new microfluidics-based microarray developed by a team at McGill University could potentially change how and when cancer is diagnosed. The group measured the profile of 32 proteins in the blood of 11 healthy controls and 17 patients diagnosed with breast cancer. The researchers discovered that a subset of six of these 32 proteins could be used to establish a fingerprint for breast cancer, allowing the individuals in the study to be categorized as having or not having breast cancer. This method could reduce the dependence on mammography, minimizing cost and exposure to x-ray radiation. Currently, the team is currently developing a handheld version of the test and is trying to improve its sensitivity in order to detect breast cancer accurately and at the earliest possible stage.