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Pro-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors in human milk: an exploratory analysis of racial differences to inform breast cancer etiology

Breast Cancer Research and Treatment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Analysis of cytokines and growth factors in human milk offers a noninvasive approach for studying the microenvironment of the postpartum breast, which may better reflect tissue levels than testing blood samples. Given that Black women have a higher incidence of early-onset breast cancers than White women, we hypothesized that milk of the former contains higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, adipokines, and growth factors.

Methods

Participants included 130 Black and 162 White women without a history of a breast biopsy who completed a health assessment questionnaire and donated milk for research. Concentrations of 15 analytes in milk were examined using two multiplex and 4 single-analyte electrochemiluminescent sandwich assays to measure pro-inflammatory cytokines, angiogenesis factors, and adipokines. Mixed-effects ordinal logistic regression was used to identify determinants of analyte levels and to compare results by race, with adjustment for confounders. Factor analysis was used to examine covariation among analytes.

Results

Thirteen of 15 analytes were detected in ≥ 25% of the human milk specimens. In multivariable models, elevated BMI was significantly associated with increased concentrations of 5 cytokines: IL-1β, bFGF, FASL, EGF, and leptin (all p-trend < 0.05). Black women had significantly higher levels of leptin and IL-1β, controlling for BMI. Factor analysis of analyte levels identified two factors related to inflammation and growth factor pathways.

Conclusion

This exploratory study demonstrated the feasibility of measuring pro-inflammatory cytokines, adipokines, and angiogenesis factors in human milk, and revealed higher levels of some pro-inflammatory factors, as well as increased leptin levels, among Black as compared with White women.

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Acknowledgements

Funding was provided by National Cancer Institute (Bench to Bedside Award) to authors Mark E. Sherman, Kathleen F. Arcaro, and Gretchen L. Gierach.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. George Washington University School of Nursing, 1919 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC, 20006, USA

    Jeanne Murphy

  2. Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Jeanne Murphy

  3. Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Ruth M. Pfeiffer, Brittny C. Davis Lynn, Hannah P. Yang, Roni T. Falk & Gretchen L. Gierach

  4. Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA

    Ana I. Caballero, Eva P. Browne, Elizabeth C. Punska & Kathleen F. Arcaro

  5. Department of Sociology, Sloan College, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA

    Douglas L. Anderton

  6. Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA

    Mark E. Sherman

Authors
  1. Jeanne Murphy
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  2. Ruth M. Pfeiffer
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  11. Kathleen F. Arcaro
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Correspondence to Jeanne Murphy.

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Additional information

Gretchen L. Gierach, Kathleen F. Arcaro, Mark E. Sherman—Co-senior authors.

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Murphy, J., Pfeiffer, R.M., Lynn, B.C.D. et al. Pro-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors in human milk: an exploratory analysis of racial differences to inform breast cancer etiology. Breast Cancer Res Treat 172, 209–219 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-018-4907-7

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