Cellular/Molecular-assisted Early Detection of Breast Cancer: An Update

Abstract: Breast cancer (BC) is a leading cause of cancer death in women globally. Early detection is crucial for improving outcomes, but current non-invasive biomarker-based methods lack sufficient sensitivity and specificity, necessitating the discovery of new biomarkers. This review explores innovative cellular and molecular approaches for the early detection of breast cancer. We conducted a comprehensive review of the literature on promising biomarkers for BC, focusing on those detectable in body fluids. Several molecular biomarkers show significant potential. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have altered expression levels in early-stage BC. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs), particularly clusters, are prevalent in early disease and aid metastasis. Furthermore, the dysregulation of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and steroid hormone receptors (ER/PR) plays a critical role in BC initiation and progression. Advances in understanding molecular drivers like ncRNAs, CTCs, and RTKs are paving the way for novel, highly sensitive, and specific liquid biopsies. These emerging biomarkers hold great promise for revolutionizing the early detection of breast cancer.