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Microcalcification crystallography as a potential marker of DCIS recurrence
Sarah B Gosling1, Emily L Arnold2, Samantha K Davies2
1School of Chemical and Physical Sciences, Keele University, Keele, UK. s.b.gosling@keele.ac.uk.
Scientific Reports
|June 8, 2023
Summary
Researchers identified unique breast cancer biomarkers in microcalcifications. These findings may help predict ductal carcinoma in-situ progression and reduce overtreatment.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Materials Science
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Ductal carcinoma in-situ (DCIS) represents 20-25% of new breast cancer diagnoses.
- Uncertainty in invasive progression risk and lack of biomarkers lead to significant overtreatment (~75%).
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify novel prognostic biomarkers for invasive progression of DCIS.
- To explore crystallographic and chemical characteristics of DCIS microcalcifications for predictive potential.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of microcalcifications from patients with and without invasive breast cancer recurrence (5-year follow-up).
- Comparison of crystallographic features (whitlockite mass, crystal maturity) and elemental composition (Na/Ca ratio).
Main Results:
- Significant differences observed in whitlockite relative mass and crystal maturity between recurrent and non-recurrent groups.
- Distinct differences in sodium to calcium ion ratios were noted.
- A preliminary predictive model achieved an AUC of 0.797 for DCIS to invasive cancer progression.
Conclusions:
- DCIS microcalcification composition and structure differ based on invasive progression risk.
- These features offer potential as prognostic biomarkers for DCIS.
- Understanding microcalcification formation provides insights into the tumor microenvironment.
