Page 105 - AWSAR 2.0

generate some novel tumour markers by anthropometric, cytogenetic, and biochemical analyses. The present article will focus on the anthropometric marker of breast cancer.
Anthropometry is the branch of anatomy that deals with the study of measurement of the human body, and dermatoglyphics is a branch of anthropometry that deals with the study of epidermal ridges of palms and soles. These ridges are formed at around the 10th week of human foetus development and stay throughout the life of the individual without changing. Any abnormality or mutation formed during this developmental stage can reflect in the anomaly in the epidermal ridges, as in the case of congenital malformations. Hence, it is a clinically established method of diagnosis for congenital malformations in genetic labs throughout the world.
There is a reason to believe that it can reflect the anomaly and thus predisposition towards certain other diseases
including cancer. The sheer
simplistic nature of its study
and its noninvasiveness and cost-effectiveness are the
reasons that many scientists
are exploring this as a potential
diagnostic tool for identifying
diseases including cancer.
Dermatoglyphics study and its role in breast cancer screening
Dermatoglyphics has found
applications in genetic labs, anthropological studies and
medico-legal cases for ages.
However, its role in screening
other diseases such as breast
cancer, diabetes mellitus and
schizophrenia to name a few,
has been realized only in recent
years, and a number of researchers are working on this.
Dr Alibha Rawat || 81
Its role in breast cancer screening has been explored by a number of researchers. A specific tool of dermatoglyphic study ATD angle is found to have the potential to screen high-risk individuals. ATD angle is the angle of the triradius junction that is drawn from the junctions found below the digital fingers and at the proximal end of the palm by taking a print of the palm by applying ink. The angle can be directly drawn on the palm as well. It has been found by a number of studies that the wider the ATD angle (>45°), the higher the risk of breast cancer.
The importance of these markings to the geneticist was not realized until recent years. They can be used as an adjunct to other diagnostic methods in identifying diseases of genetic origin.
In my PhD work, around 200 women with breast cancer, aged 18–70 years, were registered, and an equal number
of age-matched healthy women were enrolled for the dermatoglyphic study. ATD angle measurement was chosen as the dermatoglyphic tool for analysing patients with breast cancer. It is the angle of the triradius junction between the digital fingers and the proximal end of the hand. It has been found that the wider the angle >45°, the more will the risk of breast cancer and other hormonal imbalances.
The result showed a mean ATD angle of 48° in breast cancer compared with healthy control, which was statistically significant with a P value of 0.0001.
Besides these enrolled and documented cases, the ATD angle measurement has been done by the
Dermatoglyphics, the branch of anthropometry, which deals with the study of epidermal ridges and patterns found in the hands and soles of human beings, is one such noninvasive technique that has been explored as
a marker for breast cancer screening. It can play a very pivotal role in minimizing this anxiety and convincing women to go for a screening to check their risk factors.