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Published in: Breast Cancer Research 5/2003

01-10-2003 | Commentary

Can the stroma provide the clue to the cellular basis for mammographic density?

Authors: Ruth Warren, Sunil R Lakhani

Published in: Breast Cancer Research | Issue 5/2003

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Abstract

Mammographic density is recognised as a useful phenotypic biomarker of breast cancer risk. Deeper understanding is needed of the cellular basis, but evidence is limited because of difficulty in designing studies to validate hypotheses. The ductal epithelial components do not adequately explain the physical and dynamic features observed. The stroma is thought to interact with ductal structures in cancer initiation. Stromal tissues might account for the mammographic features, and this interplay can be hypothesised to relate risk to density. In a paper in this issue of Breast Cancer Research, Alowami has shown a relationship between density and stromal proteins, which might provide useful insight into mammographic density.
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Metadata
Title
Can the stroma provide the clue to the cellular basis for mammographic density?
Authors
Ruth Warren
Sunil R Lakhani
Publication date
01-10-2003
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Breast Cancer Research / Issue 5/2003
Electronic ISSN: 1465-542X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/bcr642

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