HISTOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF IRON DEPOSITION IN BREAST CANCER


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ERKAN B., Green A. R.

Journal of Inonu University Vocational School of Health Services, cilt.14, sa.2, ss.251-258, 2026 (Scopus, TRDizin)

Özet

In this study, we investigated the spatial distribution of iron in ER+/HER2-tissues using Prussian blue histochemical staining combined with digital pathology analysis. Whole-slide image evaluation revealed marked intratumoural heterogeneity in iron deposition, with focal iron-rich and iron-poor regions frequently observed within the same tumour. In addition, iron accumulation was often detected in peritumoural areas, suggesting a contributory role of the tumour microenvironment in local iron remodelling. Although Prussian blue staining detects ferric iron and does not directly measure ferroptosis, the presence of iron-rich niches may indicate regions with increased vulnerability to iron-dependent oxidative stress. These findings highlight iron dysregulation as a potential contributor to breast cancer heterogeneity and support further investigation ofinto ferroptosis-related pathways in tissue-based studies.