Extending The Value Of Ultrasound-Guided Breast Biopsy Samples

https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/breast-biopsy/about/pac-20384812

Ultrasound-guided breast biopsy obtains more than just a few millimeters of tissue strips; it is a "key" to precision medicine. These tiny samples carry rich biological information and play an irreplaceable role in pathological diagnosis, molecular subtyping, and translational research.

At the routine pathological level, biopsy samples undergo a series of standardized procedures, including fixation, dehydration, embedding, sectioning, and staining. Pathologists observe key indicators such as cellular atypia and the degree of tissue structural damage under a microscope to determine benign or malignant characteristics. For ultrasound-guided breast biopsy, the integrity and representativeness of the specimen are crucial-incorrect sampling location or insufficient tissue volume may lead to underestimation of tumor grade or even missed diagnosis. Therefore, a "multi-sampling" strategy is often used clinically to improve diagnostic accuracy.

A deeper significance lies in molecular pathology testing. Thanks to advancements in biopsy technology, samples obtained solely through ultrasound-guided breast biopsy can now be used to detect key indicators such as estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and the Ki-67 proliferation index. These data directly determine whether a patient is suitable for endocrine therapy, targeted therapy, or chemotherapy, and are a prerequisite for achieving "personalized treatment."

In the research field, biopsy samples are also a valuable resource. Researchers can extract DNA, RNA, or proteins from fresh biopsy tissue to conduct gene sequencing and proteomics analysis, exploring the molecular mechanisms of breast cancer development and progression. With the rise of liquid biopsy technology, even trace amounts of tissue remaining after biopsy can be used for research on circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) or exosomes. Furthermore, ultrasound-guided breast biopsy provides a convenient tissue acquisition method for new drug clinical trials, accelerating the development of anticancer drugs.

It is worth noting that the collection of biopsy samples for research purposes must adhere to strict ethical guidelines and obtain informed consent from patients. Simultaneously, sample preservation conditions (such as liquid nitrogen flash freezing or specialized preservation solutions) must be optimized according to the research objectives to ensure the integrity of bioactive substances.

In short, ultrasound-guided breast biopsy bridges the gap between clinical diagnosis and basic research, serving current patient care while contributing long-term efforts to conquering breast cancer.