Digital dermatoglyphics and breast cancer

Area of Science:

• Dermatoglyphics
• Oncology
• Medical Genetics

Background:

• Breast cancer is a significant global health concern.
• Early detection and risk assessment are crucial for improving patient outcomes.
• Dermatoglyphic patterns, including fingerprint characteristics, have been explored for potential associations with various diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between fingerprint pattern frequencies and pattern intensity index in Caucasian females.
• To compare these dermatoglyphic features among women with histologically confirmed breast cancer, those at high risk, and a healthy control group.

Main Methods:

• Obtained digital fingerprint data from 119 Caucasian females.
• Classified participants into three groups: breast cancer (n=34), high-risk (n=53), and control (n=32).
• Analyzed fingerprint pattern frequencies and calculated the pattern intensity index for each group.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in digital pattern frequencies and pattern intensity index were observed across the three groups.
• Women with breast cancer or at high risk were more likely to have six or more whorls compared to controls (32.4% vs. 3.1%).
• A strong association was found, with 95% of individuals possessing six or more whorls belonging to either the cancer or high-risk group.

Conclusions:

• Specific fingerprint patterns, particularly the presence of six or more whorls, may serve as a potential indicator for breast cancer risk.
• Dermatoglyphics could offer a non-invasive, supplementary tool for breast cancer risk assessment.
• Further research is warranted to validate these findings and explore the underlying biological mechanisms.