A Method to Diagnose the Risk for and Prevent Breast Inflammation and Breast Cancer

Background: With breast cancer continuing to afflict many women (and some men), methods to identify a person at risk and prevent the disease before onset of its progression provide a highly valuable means to battle the disease. There exists currently no such art to identify a risk for inflammation and prevent the possible progression to breast cancer before malignant transformation.

Technology Description: UC San Diego researchers have invented new methods to detect entry of inflammatory mediators in normal (or diseased) breasts as well as ways to prevent the inflammation. Although the disclosed techniques focus on breast cancer, this diagnostic technology may be applicable to other similar diseased conditions, including prostate inflammation and cancer, ovarian and colon inflammation and cancer, and certain forms of brain inflammation and cancer. More generally, this technology is applicable to inflammation and cancers derived from epithelial cells, namely carcinomas.

Keywords: breast cancer, diagnostic, treatment, prevention

Case Number: SD2009-163

Inquiries To: invent@ucsd.edu