Characterization of the microbiome of nipple aspirate fluid of breast cancer survivors.

Publication Title

Sci Rep

Authors

Alfred A Chan, Dirks/Dougherty Laboratory for Cancer Research, Department of Translational Immunology, John Wayne Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, CA, USA.
Mina Bashir
Magali N Rivas
Karen Duvall
Peter A Sieling, Dirks/Dougherty Laboratory for Cancer Research, Department of Translational Immunology, John Wayne Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, CA, USA.
Thomas R Pieber
Parag A Vaishampayan
Susan M Love
Delphine J Lee, Dirks/Dougherty Laboratory for Cancer Research, Department of Translational Immunology, John Wayne Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, CA, USA.Follow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-21-2016

Keywords

Adult; Aged; Bacteria; Bacteroides; Breast Neoplasms; Cancer Survivors; Case-Control Studies; Female; Glucuronidase; Humans; Microbiota; Middle Aged; Nipple Aspirate Fluid; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Sequence Analysis, RNA; Skin; Sphingomonadaceae

Abstract

The microbiome impacts human health and disease. Until recently, human breast tissue and milk were presumed to be sterile. Here, we investigated the presence of microbes in the nipple aspirate fluid (NAF) and their potential association with breast cancer. We compared the NAF microbiome between women with a history of breast cancer (BC) and healthy control women (HC) using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. The NAF microbiome from BC and HC showed significant differences in community composition. Two Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) showed differences in relative abundances between NAF collected from BC and HC. In NAF collected from BC, there was relatively higher incidence of the genus Alistipes. By contrast, an unclassified genus from the Sphingomonadaceae family was relatively more abundant in NAF from HC. These findings reflect the ductal source DNA since there were no differences between areolar skin samples collected from BC and HC. Furthermore, the microbes associated with BC share an enzymatic activity, Beta-Glucuronidase, which may promote breast cancer. This is the first report of bacterial DNA in human breast ductal fluid and the differences between NAF from HC and BC. Further investigation of the ductal microbiome and its potential role in breast cancer are warranted.

Area of Special Interest

Cancer

Area of Special Interest

Women & Children

Specialty/Research Institute

Oncology