I18-Microfocus Spectroscopy
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Open Access
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.
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Mar 2024
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I18-Microfocus Spectroscopy
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Sarah B.
Gosling
,
Emily L.
Arnold
,
Samantha K.
Davies
,
Hannah
Cross
,
Ihssane
Bouybayoune
,
Doriana
Calabrese
,
Jayakrupakar
Nallala
,
Sarah E.
Pinder
,
Liping
Fu
,
Esther H.
Lips
,
Lorraine
King
,
Jeffrey
Marks
,
Allison
Hall
,
Lars J.
Grimm
,
Thomas
Lynch
,
Donna
Pinto
,
Hilary
Stobart
,
E. Shelley
Hwang
,
Jelle
Wesseling
,
Kalotina
Geraki
,
Nicholas
Stone
,
Iain D.
Lyburn
,
Charlene
Greenwood
,
Keith D.
Rogers
,
Alastair
Thompson
,
Serena
Nik-Zainal
,
Elinor J.
Sawyer
,
Helen
Davies
,
Andrew
Futreal
,
Nicholas
Navin
,
Jos
Jonkers
,
Jacco
Van Rheenen
,
Fariba
Behbod
,
Marjanka
Schmidt
,
Lodewyk F. A.
Wessels
,
Daniel
Rea
,
Proteeti
Bhattacharjee
,
Deborah
Collyar
,
Ellen
Verschuur
,
Marja
Van Oirsouw
Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[21565, 25414, 27300, 23072]
Open Access
Abstract: Ductal carcinoma in-situ (DCIS) accounts for 20–25% of all new breast cancer diagnoses. DCIS has an uncertain risk of progression to invasive breast cancer and a lack of predictive biomarkers may result in relatively high levels (~ 75%) of overtreatment. To identify unique prognostic biomarkers of invasive progression, crystallographic and chemical features of DCIS microcalcifications have been explored. Samples from patients with at least 5-years of follow up and no known recurrence (174 calcifications in 67 patients) or ipsilateral invasive breast cancer recurrence (179 microcalcifications in 57 patients) were studied. Significant differences were noted between the two groups including whitlockite relative mass, hydroxyapatite and whitlockite crystal maturity and, elementally, sodium to calcium ion ratio. A preliminary predictive model for DCIS to invasive cancer progression was developed from these parameters with an AUC of 0.797. These results provide insights into the differing DCIS tissue microenvironments, and how these impact microcalcification formation.
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Jun 2023
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I18-Microfocus Spectroscopy
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Abstract: Prostate cancer is the most common cancer for men in
Europe, accounting for 22 % of all new diagnoses [1].
Diagnosis and prognosis are usually determined with
prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing or MRI and/or
biopsy but results are often conflicting (in 15-20% of
cases), which can lead to over- or undertreatment,
causing increased incontinence, impotence and mortality.
Identifying robust biomarkers in the prostate tissue
microenvironment remains an important investigative
avenue for prostate cancer diagnostics and prognostics.
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Jun 2023
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I15-1-X-ray Pair Distribution Function (XPDF)
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Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[24283]
Open Access
Abstract: The main mineral component of bone is hydroxyapatite, a commonly nanocrystalline material which presents many challenges for those trying to characterize it. Here, local structure is analyzed using X-ray total scattering for synthetic samples, to enable a better understanding of the nanocrystalline nature of hydroxyapatite. Two samples were measured dynamically during heat treatment from 25 °C to 800 °C, and were analyzed using small box modelling. Analysis of sequential measurements when dwelling at key temperatures showed a significant relationship between time and temperature, indicating a process occurring more slowly than thermal expansion. This indicates a decrease in B-type CO32− substitution between 550 °C and 575 °C and an increase in A-type CO32− substitution above 750 °C. A greater understanding of local, intermediate, and long-range order of this complex biomineral during heat treatment can be of interest in several sectors, such as in forensic, biomedical and clinical settings for the study of implant coatings and bone diseases including osteoporosis and osteoarthritis.
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Aug 2022
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I15-1-X-ray Pair Distribution Function (XPDF)
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Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[18638]
Open Access
Abstract: Hydroxyapatite (HA) is a complex material, which is often nanocrystalline when found within a biological setting. This work has directly compared the structural characteristics derived from data collected using a conventional laboratory-based X-ray diffractometer with those collected from a dedicated pair distribution function (PDF) beamline at Diamond Light Source. In particular, the application of PDF analysis methods to carbonated HA is evaluated. 20 synthetic samples were measured using both X-ray diffraction (XRD) and PDFs. Both Rietveld refinement (of laboratory XRD data) and real-space refinement (of PDF data) were used to analyse all samples. The results of Rietveld and real-space refinements were compared to evaluate their application to crystalline and nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite. Significant relationships were observed between real-space refinement parameters and increasing carbonate substitution. Understanding the local order of synthetic hydroxyapatite can benefit several fields, including both biomedical and clinical settings.
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May 2022
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I18-Microfocus Spectroscopy
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Sarah
Gosling
,
Doriana
Calabrese
,
Jayakrupakar
Nallala
,
Charlene
Greenwood
,
Sarah
Pinder
,
Lorraine
King
,
Jeffrey
Marks
,
Donna
Pinto
,
Thomas
Lynch
,
Iain D.
Lyburn
,
E. Shelley
Hwang
,
Cruk
Grand Challenge Precision Consortium
,
Keith
Rogers
,
Nicholas
Stone
Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[21565, 25414, 27300]
Open Access
Abstract: Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is frequently associated with breast calcification. This study combines
multiple analytical techniques to investigate the heterogeneity of these calcifications at the micrometre
scale. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and Raman and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy were used to determine the physicochemical and crystallographic properties of type II breast calcifications located in formalin fixed paraffin embedded DCIS breast tissue samples. Multiple calcium phosphate phases were identified across the calcifications, distributed in different patterns. Hydroxyapatite was
the dominant mineral, with magnesium whitlockite found at the calcification edge. Amorphous calcium
phosphate and octacalcium phosphate were also identified close to the calcification edge at the apparent
mineral/matrix barrier. Crystallographic features of hydroxyapatite also varied across the calcifications, with
higher crystallinity centrally, and highest carbonate substitution at the calcification edge. Protein was also
differentially distributed across the calcification and the surrounding soft tissue, with collagen and β-pleated
protein features present to differing extents. Combination of analytical techniques in this study was essential
to understand the heterogeneity of breast calcifications and how this may link crystallographic and physicochemical properties of calcifications to the surrounding tissue microenvironment.
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Mar 2022
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I18-Microfocus Spectroscopy
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Open Access
Abstract: Background/Introduction: Breast microcalcifications are deposits of calcium oxalate, found mostly in benign tissue, or calcium phosphate in the form of hydroxyapatite, found in benign and malignant tissue. Differences in the crystallographic properties and chemical make-up of hydroxyapatite breast microcalcifications have previously been noted in differing breast pathologies.
Purpose: Ductal carcinoma in-situ (DCIS) is a precancerous breast lesion, which has the potential to form invasive breast cancer. Currently there are no definitive markers to determine DCIS invasiveness, therefore this work aims to elucidate differences in the calcification chemistry between invasive and non-invasive cases of DCIS, ultimately developing a novel biomarker for DCIS progression.
Methods: 75 formalin fixed paraffin embedded archive breast tissue samples were used subject to NHS REC approval (ref. 18/LO/0945). X-ray diffraction was carried out at 12keV on beamline i18 at Diamond Light Source, UK to determine crystallographic properties of 279 breast calcifications. SEM-EDS experiments were carried out on a Hitachi SU3500 at 11kV under low vacuum.
Results: Significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed in the proportion of magnesium whitlockite found as a secondary phase in breast calcifications from invasive (3.51 %) and non-invasive (2.82 %) DCIS samples. Additionally, crystallographic features of hydroxyapatite, the bulk of calcifications in both cases, were found to differ between the two groups. The d-spacing between crystallographic planes, was significantly (P < 0.001) larger in invasive compared to non-invasive DCIS cases. Finally, the calcium to phosphate ratio measured using EDS was significantly lower (P < 0.001) in invasive samples (1.60) compared to non-invasive samples (1.67), which more closely reflected stoichiometric hydroxyapatite.
Conclusion(s): Differences in calcification chemistry and crystallographic structure between invasive and non-invasive DCIS cases have been demonstrated in this study. Therefore, calcification chemistry is a key candidate for novel DCIS progression biomarkers and could ultimately lower treatment expenditure and improve patient quality of life by reducing overtreatment.
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May 2021
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I15-1-X-ray Pair Distribution Function (XPDF)
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Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[18638, 23164]
Open Access
Abstract: Biogenic and synthetic hydroxyapatites are confounding materials whose properties remain uncertain, even after years of study. Pair distribution function (PDF) analysis was applied to hydroxyapatites in the 1970’s and 1980’s, but this area of research has not taken full advantage of the relatively recent advances in synchrotron facilities. Here, synchrotron X-ray PDF analysis is compared to techniques commonly used to characterise hydroxyapatite (such as wide angle X-ray scattering, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis) for a range of biogenic and synthetic hydroxyapatites with a wide range of carbonate substitution. Contributions to the pair distribution function from collagen, carbonate and finite crystallite size were examined through principal component analysis and comparison of PDFs. Noticeable contributions from collagen were observed in biogenic PDFs when compared to synthetic PDFs (namely r < 15 Å), consistent with simulated PDFs of collagen structures. Additionally, changes in local structure were observed for PDFs of synthetic hydroxyapatites with differing carbonate content, notably in features near 4 Å, 8 Å and 19 Å. Regression models were generated to predict carbonate substitution from peak position within the PDFs.
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Nov 2020
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I18-Microfocus Spectroscopy
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Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[12303]
Open Access
Abstract: Microcalcifications are important diagnostic indicators of disease in breast tissue. Tissue microenvironments differ in many aspects between normal and cancerous cells, notably extracellular pH and glycolytic respiration. Hydroxyapatite microcalcification microstructure is also found to differ between tissue pathologies, including differential ion substitutions and the presence of additional crystallographic phases. Distinguishing between tissue pathologies at an early stage is essential to improve patient experience and diagnostic accuracy, leading to better disease outcome. This study explores the hypothesis that microenvironment features may become immortalised within calcification crystallite characteristics thus becoming indicators of tissue pathology. In total, 55 breast calcifications incorporating 3 tissue pathologies (benign – B2, ductal carcinoma in-situ - B5a and invasive malignancy - B5b) from archive formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded core needle breast biopsies were analysed using X-ray diffraction. Crystallite size and strain were determined from 548 diffractograms using Williamson-Hall analysis. There was an increased crystallinity of hydroxyapatite with tissue malignancy compared to benign tissue. Coherence length was significantly correlated with pathology grade in all basis crystallographic directions (P < 0.01), with a greater difference between benign and in situ disease compared to in-situ disease and invasive malignancy. Crystallite size and non-uniform strain contributed to peak broadening in all three pathologies. Furthermore, crystallite size and non-uniform strain normal to the basal planes increased significantly with malignancy (P < 0.05). Our findings support the view that tissue microenvironments can influence differing formation mechanisms of hydroxyapatite through acidic precursors, leading to differential substitution of carbonate into the hydroxide and phosphate sites, causing significant changes in crystallite size and non-uniform strain.
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Dec 2019
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