Dear Colleagues,

Calcifications are mineral deposits accumulated in several human tissues that are often associated with the occurrence and development of diseases, such as cancer and/or inflammation.  Recent studies have demonstrated that the formation of calcifications in human tissues, i.e., breast and prostate cancer, can be triggered by biological processes related to the epithelial to mesenchymal transition phenomenon. Therefore, the presence of microcalcifications could be considered an end-point sign of biological processes involved in human diseases. In fact, in some of them, such as breast cancer, the radiological detection of microcalcifications has a diagnostic value for predicting the presence of a breast lesion. In spite of the relevant role of microcalcifications in early detection of some human diseases, and their proposed activities in modulating cell behavior, little is known about their chemical composition or how this relates to pathology.  Starting from these considerations, the aim of this Special Issue is to publish the latest discoveries and bring together researchers and clinicians working in the field of “Calcifications in Human Pathology.”

Topics will include (but are not limited to): 

• Biological mechanisms related to the formation of calcifications
• Identification of cells involved in ectopic calcifications
• Prognostic value of calcifications
• Elemental composition of calcifications
• Molecular/pathologic/cellular image analysis of microcalcifications
• Diagnostic Imaging applications for the detection of microcalcifications
• Cardiovascular, breast, prostate and kidney calcifications
• Calcifications as a sign of tissue osteotropism

Prof. Dr. Elena Bonanno
Prof. Dr. Virginia Tancredi
Dr. Manuel Scimeca
Dr. Rita Bonfiglio
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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• ectopic calcifications
• microcalcifications
• cancer
• osteoblast
• hydroxyapatite
• calcium oxalate
• RANKL/OPG/RANK
• inflammation
• cardiovascular diseases

• Calcification in Human Pathology in International Journal of Molecular Sciences (11 articles)