At the molecular level, my research has focussed on understanding whether histological microscopic markers assessed in normal breast tissues, including crown-like structures (CLS) may be associated with risk of breast cancer development and progression. CLS are the organised accumulation of macrophage cells that surround dying adipocytes and are a marker of breast adipose tissue inflammation. CLS are found more frequently among women who are overweight and obese and have been hypothesised as a mechanism by which obesity may influence breast cancer risk. Specifically, findings from recently completed analyses within the NCI Polish Breast Cancer Study suggest that the presence of CLS in breast adipose tissues may offer further insight into the relationship between estrogens and postmenopausal breast cancer (Mullooly et al., Breast Cancer Research; 2017). I am currently conducting additional studies to follow-up on these findings and examining the potential role of CLS in breast cancer development. Utilising participants enrolled in ‘The BREAST Stamp Project’ which includes women referred to undergo a diagnostic image-guided breast biopsy following an abnormal mammogram, I am evaluating the relationship between the presence of CLS and pathologic diagnosis.
