Calcifications in triple-negative breast cancer: Molecular features and treatment strategies

Cai-Jin Lin; Wen-Xuan Xiao; Tong Fu; Xi Jin; Zhi-Ming Shao; Gen-Hong Di

doi:10.1038/s41523-023-00531-4

Calcifications in triple-negative breast cancer: Molecular features and treatment strategies

NPJ Breast Cancer. 2023 Apr 15;9(1):26. doi: 10.1038/s41523-023-00531-4.

Authors

Cai-Jin Lin^#¹, Wen-Xuan Xiao^#¹, Tong Fu^#¹, Xi Jin², Zhi-Ming Shao³, Gen-Hong Di⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center; Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai, Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
² Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center; Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai, Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China. 15111230037@fudan.edu.cn.
³ Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center; Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai, Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China. zhimingshao@fudan.edu.cn.
⁴ Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center; Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai, Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China. genhongdi@163.com.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Despite the high prevalence of mammographic calcifications, our understanding remains limited regarding the clinical and molecular features of calcifications within triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). To investigate the clinical relevance and biological basis of TNBC with calcifications of high suspicion for malignancy, we established a study cohort (N = 312) by integrating mammographic records with clinical data and genomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic profiling. Despite similar clinicopathological features, patients with highly suspicious calcifications exhibited a worse overall survival than those without. In addition, TNBC with highly suspicious calcifications was characterized by a higher frequency of PIK3CA mutation, lower infiltration of immune cells, and increased abnormality of lipid metabolism. Overall, our study systematically revealed clinical and molecular heterogeneity between TNBC with or without calcifications of high suspicion for malignancy. These data might help to understand the clinical relevance and biological basis of mammographic calcifications.