Molecular changes in skin predict predisposition to breast cancer

The study conducted by James et al. used synchrotron fibre diffraction to examine molecular changes in skin, specifically focusing on the ultrastructure of α-keratin in hair, to predict predisposition to breast cancer. The research involved skin samples from 192 individuals, including 172 controls and 12 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). The study found that while the only age-related change in dermal collagen was a variation in microfibrillar radius, the IDDM samples exhibited significantly lower microfibrillar radii. Additionally, fetal-like tissue was identified in the skin of healthy females with a family history of breast cancer, suggesting a potential molecular marker for breast cancer predisposition.