Increasing retrievable fluid from a breast duct

Abstract

The invention provides methods that increase retrievable fluid from a breast duct of a patient. Later a portion of the increased fluid reservoir can be collected for analysis, or analyzed in situ. Ductal fluid typically contains ductal epithelial cells and other markers that can aid in identifying a breast condition, including breast cancer and precancer.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for preparing for intraductal retrieval of fluid, cells and/or other material from a breast duct of a patient, comprising: 
 administering an agent to the patient that increases retrievable fluid from a breast duct.    
     
     
         2 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein administering is accomplished by a mode selected from the group consisting of administering the agent intraductally, administering the agent systemically, and administering the agent topically.  
     
     
         3 . A method as in  claim 2 , wherein the agent is administered intraductally to a breast duct, and the agent is selected from the group consisting of saline, phosphate buffered saline (PBS), an isotonic solution, a hypotonic solution, a buffered solution, a solution having a pH range of human tissue, blood or sera, a solution having a slightly acid pH, a solution having a slightly basic pH, and a nonabsorbable biocompatable solution.  
     
     
         4 . A method as in  claim 2 , wherein the agent is administered systemically and comprises an agent selected from the group consisting of a hormone, oxytocin, prolactin, a breast duct secretion inducing factor, a natural herb or extract from a natural herb, silymarin, a growth factor, a vitamin, a protein, a muscle relaxant, and a small organic molecule.  
     
     
         5 . A method as in  claim 2 , wherein the agent is administered intraductally to a breast duct, and the agent is selected from the group consisting of a protein, a colloid, a sugar, a polymer, mannitol, sorbitol, glucose, glycerol, sucrose, raffinose, fructose, lactulose, sodium chloride, polyethyleneglycol (PEG), maltodextrin, dextran (e.g. dextran 70), hydroxyethyl starch, fluid gelatin, a synthetic colloid, an antibody, a binding protein, albumin, a hormone, a breast duct secretion inducing factor, a natural herb or extract from a natural herb, silymarin, a surfactant, a growth factor, oxytocin, prolactin, a small organic molecule, a muscle relaxant, a ductal orifice dilator, and an agent that increases fluid secretion from a breast duct epithelium.  
     
     
         6 . A method as in  claim 2 , wherein the agent is intraductally administered and the agent is in a state selected from the group consisting of a non-liquid, a gel, an emulsion, a gas and a semi-solid.  
     
     
         7 . A method as in  claim 2 , wherein the agent is intraductally administered agent and the agent comprises a carbonated fluid comprising super oxygenated fluid that is colder than room temperature before intraductal administration.  
     
     
         8 . A method as in  claim 1 , further comprising collecting a portion of the increased breast duct fluid from a breast duct.  
     
     
         9 . A method as in  claim 8 , wherein collecting comprises accessing a breast duct with a device and withdrawing a portion of the increased ductal fluid into the device.  
     
     
         10 . A method as in  claim 8 , further comprising analyzing one or more of cells, fluid or other material in the breast duct after the retrievable fluid has been increased and a portion of it has been collected.  
     
     
         11 . A method as in  claim 10 , wherein the step of analyzing comprises identifying a marker of a breast condition.  
     
     
         12 . A method of collecting ductal fluid from a breast duct having artificially increased retrievable ductal fluid comprising accessing a breast duct with a device and withdrawing a portion of the ductal fluid into the device.  
     
     
         13 . A method as in  claim 12 , wherein withdrawn ductal fluid comprises a plurality of ductal epithelial cells.  
     
     
         14 . A method for increasing a retrievable cell amount in a breast duct comprising inducing cell sloughing within the duct by applying vibration to the duct.  
     
     
         15 . A method as in  claim 1  or  claim 12  further comprising increasing a retrievable cell amount in a breast duct comprising inducing cell sloughing within the duct by applying vibration to the duct.