Characterization of a Test for Invasive Breast Cancer Using X-ray Diffraction of Hair-Results of a Clinical Trial.

Objective: To assess the performance of a test for breast cancer utilizing synchrotron x-ray diffraction analysis of scalp hair from women undergoing diagnostic radiology assessment.

Design And Setting: A double-blinded clinical trial of women who attended diagnostic radiology clinics in Australia.

Patients: 1796 women referred for diagnostic radiology, with no previous history of cancer.

Diagnosis of breast cancer by X-ray diffraction of hair.

This article presents the results of analyses of hair fibers from women with breast cancer using synchrotron-derived X-ray diffraction. These diffraction patterns contained a new feature superimposed on the normal diffraction pattern of alpha-keratin. The feature appeared as a ring with a molecular spacing determined to be 4.