title: Qualitative and quantitative dermatoglyphic traits in patients with breast cancer: a prospective clinical study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Breast cancer is one of the most extensively studied cancers and its genetic basis is well established. Dermatoglyphic traits are formed under genetic control early in development but may be affected by environmental factors during first trimester of pregnancy. They however do not change significantly thereafter, thus maintaining stability not greatly affected by age. These patterns may represent the genetic make up of an individual and therefore his/her predisposition to certain diseases. Patterns of dermatoglyphics have been studied in various congenital disorders like Down's syndrome and Kleinfelter syndrome. The prints can thus represent a non-invasive anatomical marker of breast cancer risk and thus facilitate early detection and treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted on 60 histo-pathologically confirmed breast cancer patients and their digital dermatoglyphic patterns were studied to assess their association with the type and onset of breast cancer. Simultaneously 60 age-matched controls were also selected that had no self or familial history of a diagnosed breast cancer and the observations were recorded. The differences of qualitative (dermatoglyphic patterns) data were tested for their significance using the chi-square test, and for quantitative (ridge counts and pattern intensity index) data using the t- test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was observed that six or more whorls in the finger print pattern were statistically significant among the cancer patients as compared to controls. It was also seen that whorls in the right ring finger and right little finger were found increased among the cases as compared to controls. The differences between mean pattern intensity index of cases and controls were found to be statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The dermatoglyphic patterns may be utilized effectively to study the genetic basis of breast cancer and may also serve as a screening tool in the high-risk population. In a developing country like India it might prove to be an anatomical, non-invasive, inexpensive and effective tool for screening and studying the patterns in the high-risk population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College, Safdarjang hospital, New Delhi, India. chintamani7@rediffmail.com
authors.lastname: Chintamani
authors.forename: Rohan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Khandelwal
authors.forename: Aliza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mittal
authors.forename: Sai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saijanani
authors.forename: Amita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tuteja
authors.forename: Anju
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bansal
authors.forename: Dinesh
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bhatnagar
authors.forename: Sunita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saxena
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003878:Dermatoglyphics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies