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Updated: Jun 29, 2025
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A Semi-Automated and Reproducible Biological-Based Method to Quantify Calcium Deposition In Vitro
Published on: June 2, 2022
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Inhibiting Pathological Calcium Phosphate Mineralization: Implications for Disease Progression
Yarden Nahmias1, Gabriel Yazbek Grobman1, Netta Vidavsky1,2
1Department of Chemical Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|April 5, 2024
Summary
Pathological calcifications like hydroxyapatite (HA) are linked to aggressive breast cancer. Inhibiting HA formation may unexpectedly promote tumor growth, with amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) showing varied effects on cancer cells.
Area of Science:
- Biomineralization
- Cancer Biology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Pathological calcifications, particularly calcium phosphate microcalcifications (MCs), are prevalent in early breast cancer.
- Hydroxyapatite (HA), a key MC component, crystallizes in the tumor microenvironment and is linked to aggressive tumors and poor prognosis.
- HA can trigger tumorigenesis in vitro.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the impact of additives on HA crystallization and inhibition.
- Assess the response of precancerous breast cells to minerals formed in the presence of additives.
- Evaluate poly(aspartic acid) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) as potential HA inhibitors.
Main Methods:
- Simulated tumor microenvironment fluid used for HA crystallization.
- Assessed HA inhibition by poly(aspartic acid) and PAA.
- Exposed precancerous breast cells to various HA and amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) mineral forms (particles vs. aggregates).
Main Results:
- Nonstoichiometric HA crystallized with lump-like morphology, mimicking breast cancer MCs.
- PAA effectively inhibited HA by forming spherical ACP particles.
- Cell proliferation response varied based on mineral phase (HA vs. ACP) and aggregation state (particles vs. aggregates).
- Tumorigenic effects followed the order: HA particles < HA aggregates < ACP particles < ACP aggregates.
Conclusions:
- Mineral phase, crystallinity, morphology, and aggregation state influence cellular response to calcifications.
- HA inhibition byproducts can potentially exacerbate disease progression.
- Understanding mineral-cell interactions in the tumor microenvironment is crucial for cancer prognosis.
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