New Insights into Distinguishing Benign and Cancerous Breast Calcifications

Recent research from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, in collaboration with the Mayo Clinic and the University of Texas at Austin, has provided groundbreaking insights into the structural and formation differences between benign and cancerous breast calcifications. These deposits, which are often identified during mammograms, can appear identical but differ significantly in their internal characteristics and development processes.

The study offers the first detailed descriptions of how calcifications form within breast tissue, suggesting new diagnostic criteria that could improve accuracy, reduce unnecessary biopsies, and guide targeted therapies. The team used a comprehensive suite of 12 analytical methods—including advanced microscopy, spectroscopy, and imaging techniques—to characterize the mineral composition, structure, and progression of calcifications in tissue samples from benign breast disease (BBD) and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a precursor to invasive breast cancer.

Findings revealed that calcifications are primarily composed of amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP), a mineral capable of shapeshifting and rearranging, contrary to the previously assumed crystalline hydroxyapatite. The structure of ACP nodules varied: benign calcifications exhibited spherical, concentric layered forms, while cancerous ones tended to be elongated and irregular, with some resembling petrified wood—a sign of advanced tissue mineralization.

This differentiation in calcification morphology not only sheds light on their distinct origins but also enables the development of a new classification system, potentially allowing clinicians to assess the likelihood of malignancy more accurately based on calcification structure alone. The ability to target ACP deposits with specific drugs that dissolve these mineralized accumulations presents a promising avenue for future treatments, potentially reducing benign biopsies and associated patient discomfort.

The researchers emphasized that their holistic, multidisciplinary approach—integrating geology, biology, and medicine—was crucial for unveiling these detailed mineralization pathways. They also aim to explore how calcifications evolve in more invasive breast cancers and investigate their role in disease progression. Innovative tools like the GeoBioCell microfluidic device will allow controlled experiments simulating environmental and physiological influences on calcification growth, opening pathways for preventive strategies.

This research ultimately aims to enhance early detection, improve diagnostic precision, and foster the development of targeted therapies to prevent the progression of breast disease, making mammograms more reliable and reducing unnecessary medical procedures.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-analysis-differences-benign-cancerous-breast.html