NAF Testing in Women with Prior Breast Cancer

Breast cancer survivors. Women who have had breast cancer are at a higher risk for recurrence of cancer or for a new malignancy. In 2008, there were 2.5 MM breast cancer survivors in the US. Atossa believes these women would be candidates for regular MASCT System screening.

Post Menopausal Breast Cancer. There is overwhelming evidence that post menopausal breast cancer is determined principally by estrogen. Since the serum levels of estrogen drop significantly when the ovary stops making it at menopause, the source of the hormone in breast cancer was not understood.

In 2006, investigators at Northwestern University demonstrated that NAF contains estrogen and related sex hormones and that there is no correlation between serum and NAF concentrations of these hormones. This means that blood tests are not useful in finding these high risk patients. It also suggests that the source of the sex hormones in NAF is from synthesis within the breast itself.

There are approximately 32 MM post menopausal women and Atossa believes NAF sex hormone screening could help identify women who have high levels and are thus at higher risk.