Liquid Biopsies in Breast Milk for the Early Detection of Breast Cancer

Cell-free tumor DNA has previously been detected in nonblood sources, including urine, saliva, stool, cerebrospinal fluid, and pleural fluid. In this issue, Saura and colleagues present a novel proof-of-concept study demonstrating that detection of tumor DNA in breast milk is feasible and may be a potential future strategy to screen for postpartum breast cancer. See related article by Saura et al., p. 2180 (14). Summary: Cell-free tumor DNA has previously been detected in nonblood sources, including urine, saliva, stool, cerebrospinal fluid, and pleural fluid. In this issue, Saura and colleagues present a novel proof-of-concept study demonstrating that detection of tumor DNA in breast milk is feasible and may be a potential future strategy to screen for postpartum breast cancer.