Translating microcalcification biomarker information into the laboratory: A preliminary assessment utilizing core biopsies obtained from sites of mammographic calcification

Lyburn, Iain D.; Scott, Robert; Cornford, Eleanor; Bouzy, Pascaline; Stone, Nicholas; Greenwood, Charlene; Bouybayoune, Ihsanne; Pinder, Sarah E.; Rogers, Keith

Abstract

Rationale and objectives
The potential of breast microcalcification chemistry to provide clinically valuable intelligence is being increasingly studied. However, acquisition of crystallographic details has, to date, been limited to high brightness, synchrotron radiation sources. This study, for the first time, evaluates a laboratory-based system that interrogates histological sections containing microcalcifications. The principal objective was to determine the measurement precision of the laboratory system and assess whether this was sufficient to provide potentially clinical valuable information.

Materials and methods
Sections from 5 histological specimens from breast core biopsies obtained to evaluate mammographic calcification were examined using a synchrotron source and a laboratory-based instrument. The samples were chosen to represent a significant proportion of the known breast tissue, mineralogical landscape. Data were subsequently analysed using conventional methods and microcalcification characteristics such as crystallographic phase, chemical deviation from ideal stoichiometry and microstructure were determined.

Results
The crystallographic phase of each microcalcification (e.g., hydroxyapatite, whitlockite) was easily determined from the laboratory derived data even when a mixed phase was apparent. Lattice parameter values from the laboratory experiments agreed well with the corresponding synchrotron values and, critically, were determined to precisions that were significantly greater than required for potential clinical exploitation.

Conclusion
It has been shown that crystallographic characteristics of microcalcifications can be determined in the laboratory with sufficient precision to have potential clinical value. The work will thus enable exploitation acceleration of these latent microcalcification features as current dependence upon access to limited synchrotron resources is minimized.

Citation

Lyburn, I. D., Scott, R., Cornford, E., Bouzy, P., Stone, N., Greenwood, C., Bouybayoune, I., Pinder, S. E., & Rogers, K. (2024). Translating microcalcification biomarker information into the laboratory: A preliminary assessment utilizing core biopsies obtained from sites of mammographic calcification. Heliyon, 10(6), Article e27686. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27686

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 5, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Mar 12, 2024
• Publication Date: Mar 30, 2024
• Deposit Date: Mar 18, 2024
• Journal: Heliyon
• Print ISSN: 2405-8440
• Electronic ISSN: 2405-8440
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 10
• Issue: 6
• Article Number: e27686
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27686
• Public URL: https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/775767