Nanobacteria promote crystallization of psammoma bodies in ovarian cancer

Abstract

Serous papillary adenocarcinomas of the ovary are often associated with microcalcifications, namely psammoma bodies. Archebacteria such as nanobacteria are, for example, involved in kidney stone formation. Nanobacteria deserve close scrutiny as their cytotoxicity and ability to cross the placenta present a potential clinical risk. In this study we investigated whether nanobacteria are associated with psammoma bodies in ovarian cancer. We identified in all seven carcinomas with multiple psammoma body nanobacterial antigens in histological specimens and in the ascitic fluid. Control cases of adenocarcinomas without such calcifications did not present nanobacterial antigens. This finding indicates that apart from non-malignant conditions, nanobacteria could also be found in cancer. Hence, nanobacterial infection may be of clinical importance as these bacteria are related to microcalifications in ovarian cancer.