Quick Pap Test for Breast Cancer Risk

The test, called the Halo breast Pap test system, was developed by NeoMatrix (Irvine, CA, USA). According to the company, 95% of all breast cancer originates in the ductal system of the breasts. Thus, the cytologic assessment of breast duct fluid, or nipple aspirate fluid (NAF), should identify a woman's specific risk of developing breast cancer. A woman with a family history of breast cancer has a risk of developing the disease that is two to three times higher than that of other women. However, when family history and abnormal breast cell cytology are combined, the risk of cancer has been shown to be increased 11 times.

The test uses a breast pump and adjustable breast cups to collect NAF. During the five-minute cycle, the Halo system generates mild compression on both breasts while simultaneously applying heat. Toward the end of the cycle, the Halo system initiates gentle suction to retrieve any fluid from the ducts.

Dr. George Papanicolaou, who developed the cervical Pap test in the 1950s was the first to demonstrate that it is possible to identify abnormal cells and potential precursors of cancer by analyzing cells collected from the fluid of the breast ductal system. Examination of NAF has been cited in several large cohort studies as a predictor of benign breast disease that may lead to increased risk of breast cancer. A common conclusion from these studies is that routine NAF assessment may be a useful objective tool to improve the prediction of breast cancer risk.

"Until now, however, there were only invasive surgical or manual methods to collect samples, which impacted acceptance by both physicians and patients. The new Halo system provides a simple, noninvasive tool to collect ductal fluid in minutes and can easily be incorporated into a well-woman visit,” said Dr. Rosalyn Baxter-Jones, medical director of the Preventive Women's Health Care Medical Group in San Diego (CA, USA).




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