Dolomite mineralization and crystal structure: Implications for breast precancer microcalcifications and disease progression

DCIS is a precancerous stage of breast cancer with unpredictable progression to invasive cancer (IDC), potentially resulting in overtreatment. Microcalcifications (MCs), which are calcium deposits commonly found in DCIS, vary in composition from calcium phosphate (CaP) to less common non-CaP minerals. Many studies focused on the crystal properties of CaP, indicating their association with malignancy and potential diagnostic value. However, our study investigates the relationship between properties of non-CaP MCs and progression of DCIS to IDC. Our retrospective analysis of samples from DCIS patients revealed a significant presence of calcium carbonate crystals, including dolomite, CaMg(CO3)2, which to the best of our knowledge has not been previously documented in the human body. Utilizing u-XRF and u-XRD, we aim to characterize the crystal properties of these MCs and to gain insights into the mechanisms underlying dolomite crystallization within the human body.