For the first time, scientists have used quantitative analysis processes to identify biomarkers for breast cancer before the development of a tumour.
In a study published by BMC Cancer, and undertaken by scientists at institutions across the Netherlands and Sweden, the team use pre-diagnostic serum protein profiles to identify biomarkers in relation to breast cancer.
The team explained that previous studies have only used biological samples collected at or after diagnosis, a fact which may limit the value of the studies to provide biomarkers due to the advanced nature of the tumour and the potential risk of reverse causality.
Using quantitative analysis processes, the scientists looked for differences in proteins in 68 women diagnosed with breast cancer in the three years after enrolment against 68 controls.
They found that there are a number of proteins found to be higher in pre-diagnostic breast cancer, with others found to indicate the presence of mammographically detectable breast cancer.
This shows that serum proteins are already altered some three years prior to diagnosis.
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