Analysis of the Structure of Salivary Lipids by FTIR Spectroscopy in Mammary Gland Pathologies

An analysis of saliva lipid extracts using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was performed in breast cancer, fibroadenomas, and healthy controls. A general decrease in the absorption band intensities of salivary lipids was demonstrated, along with changes in their structure in terms of the ratio of unbranched to branched lipid molecules. Significant factors influencing changes in the salivary lipid profile were found to be HER2 receptor expression and the breast cancer phenotype. The greatest differences from other subtypes were demonstrated for non-luminal breast cancer. Overall, changes in lipid metabolism in breast cancer, especially in the most aggressive subtypes, require further study, as they involve numerous potential therapeutic targets that could improve disease treatment, and therefore overall patient survival and quality of life.