Prophylactic and therapeutic treatment of the ductal epithelium of a mammary gland for cancer

Abstract

The present invention provides prophylactic and therapeutic methods of treating the ductal epithelium of an exocrine gland, in particular a mammary gland, for disease, in particular cancer. The methods comprise contacting the ductal epithelium of the exocrine gland with an epithelium destroying agent, preferably by ductal cannulation, so as to realize a prophylactic or therapeutic effect.

1 . A method for treating or preventing breast cancer, which method comprises cannulating a duct of a mammary gland in need of therapeutic or prophylactic treatment for breast cancer and locally administering into the duct an epithelium-destroying agent in an amount sufficient to destroy at least a portion of the ductal epithelium, whereupon breast cancer is treated or prevented.  
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the epithelium-destroying agent selectively destroys cells of the ductal epithelium.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the ductal epithelium that is destroyed is up to about 70%.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the duct is cannulated through a nipple.  
   
   
       5 . A method of treating or preventing breast cancer, which method comprises identifying a duct in a nipple of a mammary gland in need of therapeutic or prophylactic treatment, directly accessing cells of the ductal epithelium of the duct by cannulating the duct through the nipple, and locally administering into the duct an epithelium-destroying agent in an amount sufficient to destroy selectively at least a portion of the ductal epithelium substantially without destroying other cells of the mammary gland, whereupon breast cancer is treated or prevented.