The role of nanomagnetic beads in diagnosis of early breast cancer by ductoscopy combined with CEA expression of tumor marker

Abstract

In this study, nipple discharge patients were selected as subjects to evaluate the diagnostic value of ductoscopy and the tumor marker CEA expression in early occulted breast cancer. A retrospective analysis was performed on 121 pathological nipple discharge patients who received treatment in our hospital. Thirty-two parturients who delivered normally in our hospital during the same period were randomly selected to be included in the control group. Samples of the subjects’ milk and nipple discharge were collected. The contents of tumor markers CEA, CA153, and CA125 were measured in the nipple discharge and milk using nanomagnetic beads combined with chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA). The findings from ductoscopy were documented and compared to the pathological results obtained after surgery. Nanomagnetic beads combined with CLIA can enhance the efficiency and stability of detection. CEA and CA125 levels increased in the group with breast lesions, and reached their highest levels in the group with malignant breast diseases. The positive prediction rates of CA153 and CEA in breast cancer were significantly higher than in the benign lesion group (P < 0005). Univariate analysis showed that bloody nipple discharge or III ∼ IV breast duct lesions identified as high-risk factors associated with breast cancer. The sensitivity of endoscopy for diagnosing malignant lesions was 90.70%, while the sensitivity of CEA+ endoscopy was 95.35%. Ductoscopy has high sensitivity in the diagnosis of early occult breast cancer. The sensitivity and specificity of diagnosis could be significantly improved by combining tumor marker CEA expression with ductoscopy.