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Adipocytokine resistin and breast cancer risk

  • Epidemiology
  • Published:
Breast Cancer Research and Treatment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Adipocytokine resistin is a member of the newly discovered family of cysteine-rich protein. Recent data suggest that macrophages are a major source of human resistin. Given the obesity-breast cancer link and convergence of adipocyte and macrophage function, resistin may provide unique insight into links between obesity, inflammation, and breast cancer risk in humans. We conducted a hospital-based case–control study to evaluate whether plasma resistin levels were associated with breast cancer risk in women. We also examined the modification effect of estrogen exposures on the resistin–breast cancer link. Questionnaire information, anthropometric measures, and blood samples were taken before treatment from 380 incident cases with breast cancer and 760 controls admitted for health examination at the Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei between 2004 and 2008. Plasma levels of resistin were measured by enzyme immunoassay. Cumulative exposure to estrogens were estimated according to the age at menarche and age at enrollment for premenopausal women and age at menarche and age at menopause for postmenopausal women. Cases with breast cancer had significantly elevated resistin concentrations as compared with control subjects. Compared with those in the lowest quartile, the adjusted odds ratios of breast cancer for women in the second, third, and highest quartiles were 1.48 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.65–3.38], 1.76 (95% CI = 1.00–4.73), and 2.08 (95% CI = 1.04–3.85), respectively. Furthermore, the biological gradient of breast cancer risk by plasma resistin levels remained after adjustment for measurers of adiposity. The dose-dependent relationship of resistin levels with breast cancer risk was notably pronounced among women with excess exposure to estrogens. Adipocytokine resistin may have an adiposity-independent role in breast carcinogenesis. Mechanistic studies to fully elucidate the mechanisms underlying resistin’s effects should be pursued in future investigations.

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Abbreviations

BMI:

Body mass index

CI:

Confidence interval

CV:

Coefficient of variation

FFTP:

First full-term pregnancy

OR:

Odds ratio

WC:

Waist circumference

WHR:

Waist-to-hip ratio

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the grants from National Science Council, Taiwan, Republic of China (NSC 95-2314-B-030-004-MY3 and NSC 97-2314-B-030-006-MY3). The authors also grateful to all women who participated in this study, in particular those who took the effort to supply this study with a blood sample. The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that would prejudice the impartiality of this scientific work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University, No. 510, Jhongjheng Road, Sinjhuang 242, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC

    Chien-An Sun, Mei-Hsuan Wu & Wan-Yun Chou

  2. Department of Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Chi-Hong Chu & Jyh-Cherng Yu

  3. School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan

    Yu-Ching Chou

  4. Department of Radiology, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Giu-Cheng Hsu

  5. Department of Health Business Administration, Meiho Institute of Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan

    Tsan Yang

  6. Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Cheng-Ping Yu

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  1. Chien-An Sun
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Correspondence to Chien-An Sun.

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Sun, CA., Wu, MH., Chu, CH. et al. Adipocytokine resistin and breast cancer risk. Breast Cancer Res Treat 123, 869–876 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-010-0792-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-010-0792-4

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