Figure 5From: Microcalcifications in breast cancer: an active phenomenon mediated by epithelial cells with mesenchymal characteristics Model for mesenchymal transformation and calcium deposition in breast cancer. Physiological bone mineralization involves mesenchymal cells expressing vimentin and cytoplasmic/nuclear β-catenin. In our hypothesis, epithelial cells acquire mesenchymal characteristics in a microenvironment conditioned by β2-microglobulin. Under BMP-2-induction, epithelial cells that have acquired the mesenchymal phenotype could assume an osteoblast-like phenotype and behave as a producer of complex forms of calcification.Back to article page