Brazilian researchers at Unesp have developed a less invasive tissue biopsy technique to completely remove small breast tumors without surgical operation. The method combines vacuum-assisted biopsy, also known as mammotomy, with scraping of the cavity tissue margins to determine whether cancerous lesions remain in the breast.
International scientific recognition followed in August when the study was published in the journal Annals of Surgical Oncology, issued by the Society of Surgical Oncology. In a retrospective trial analyzing 120 patient cases, the technique completely eliminated the tumor in 37.5 percent of instances, avoiding the need for subsequent surgery in one out of three women.
During standard vacuum-assisted biopsies, medical staff collect tissue samples using a specialized needle, which leaves a residue site inside the breast cavity. Under the new protocol, doctors insert a needle to perform a detailed scraping, known as cavity shaving, to extract additional lesion fragments. These gathered segments undergo laboratory analysis to confirm whether any malignant cells linger in the breast tissue.
Testing tissue cavity margins
The research originated from the doctoral dissertation of mastologist Paula Clarke at Universidade Estadual Paulista, known as Unesp, in Botucatu, Sao Paulo. The study was titled "Collection of cavity margin fragments as part of extended vacuum-assisted breast biopsy: a potential approach to predict percutaneous breast cancer excision." It was conceived and guided by Professor Eduardo Carvalho Pessoa and Henrique Lima Couto within the university department of obstetrics and gynecology.
Unesp is a major public research institution in Sao Paulo state, while Botucatu is located in the southeastern region of Brazil. Data for the study was gathered from a retrospective review of 120 patient records stored at Redimama-Redimasto, a specialized breast imaging center operating in Belo Horizonte, the state capital of Minas Gerais.
The primary objective of the strategy is to eliminate the need for women to undergo surgical operations solely to confirm the complete removal of a tumor. Depending on the size of the lesion, the tissue extraction performed during the biopsy process itself can successfully remove the entire tumor.
Clarke stated that the trial addressed a fundamental problem in oncology by evaluating whether extended vacuum biopsies combined with margin shaving could verify the total removal of small tumors. She described the strategy as a potentially important step forward for future percutaneous breast cancer treatments, which access tissue through small skin punctures rather than open surgical incisions.
Clinical trial expansion
Lima Couto, the mastologist who developed the technique evaluated in the study, confirmed that the research findings are moving forward to validation in a phase 2 clinical trial. In medical research, phase 2 clinical trials test whether a new procedure or treatment works effectively in human patients. Researchers are also expanding testing to include breast cancer patients who are undergoing post-chemotherapy care.
Lima Couto noted that the investigation, designated as the VAE Breast 01 study, is being conducted exclusively in Brazil. He emphasized that the country is established at the frontier of research into percutaneous treatments and complete tumor resection aimed at treating breast cancer.
Breast cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths among Brazilian women, according to data from the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Official statistics show an incidence rate of 66.54 new cases per 100,000 women nationwide, caused by the uncontrolled multiplication of abnormal cells that can invade surrounding tissues and organs.
Warning signs and symptoms
Health authorities highlight several key warning signs that require prompt medical evaluation. The Ministry of Health lists the primary symptoms as follows:
- Any breast nodule appearing in women over 50 years of age
- Breast nodules in women over 30 years of age that persist for longer than one menstrual cycle
- Skin irritation or lesions on the nipple that resemble allergies or fungal infections but do not improve with standard ointments
- Palpable single-sided breast lumps appearing in men over 50 years of age
- Swollen lymph nodes or lumps located in the armpit area
- Progressive enlargement of breast size accompanied by signs of edema, such as skin resembling an orange peel texture
