Mueller polarimetric imaging for characterizing the collagen microstructures of breast cancer tissues in different genotypes

Abstract Mueller polarimetric imaging has been proven a valid method for detecting tissue in biomedical field. In the present study, we applied the Mueller matrix microscopy to characterize the microstructures of breast cancer tissues in different genotypes. The experimental results demonstrated that Mueller matrix parameters were effective in distinguishing the genotypes of breast cancer, especially for triple-negative type. Then, we conducted quantitative analysis of Mueller matrix and immunohistochemistry (IHC) experiments. On that basis, we verified the relationship between collagen structures and polarization properties as well as the remodeling of collagen structures in breast cancer, which could provide new evidence for using high invasiveness and metastatic dissemination as triple-negative breast cancer. In comparison with traditional methods, Mueller polarimetry is independent of complex tumor marks. Besides, it is quick, sensitive and non-stained. Thus, it has a potential in the application for clinical diagnosis and is expected as a new method for researching the pathological process of breast cancer.