Adiponectin and adiponectin receptor 1 expression proteins levels are modified in breast cancer in postmenopausal women with obesity

Adipocytokine imbalance and breast cancer in obese women

CONTEXT

Breast cancer is the most common diagnosis established in women with malignant tumors.

AIMS

The purpose is to investigate the blood contents of adiponectin and leptin in women with breast cancer and obesity.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

A total of 140 women aged 40-50 were examined.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Group 1 included 70 women from classes 1 or 2 obesity. Group 2 included 70 women with stage 1 or 2 breast cancer and classes 1 or 2 obesity. The control group included 30 apparently healthy women, with mean age of 42.5 ± 2.5 years.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED

Statistical processing of the results obtained was performed using Statistica.

RESULTS

Groups 1 and 2 were statistically significantly different from each other across all parameters, except for leptin resistance. In group 2, the course of breast cancer with concomitant obesity is characterized by disrupted adipocytokine homeostasis, which manifests as a 1.94-fold decrease in the blood content of adiponectin (P < 0.05), a 4.14-fold increase in the blood content of leptin (P < 0.05), and an 8.00-fold increase in the leptin/adiponectin ratio (P < 0.05). Poorly differentiated breast tumors exhibit a more pronounced imbalance in the blood levels of adipocytokines. Thus, the serum content of leptin in women with poorly differentiated tumors (G3) was 1.79 times (P < 0.05) higher than in women with moderately differentiated tumors (G2).

CONCLUSIONS

The course of breast cancer with concomitant obesity is characterized by disrupted adipocytokine homeostasis and decreased adiponectin concentration in the blood.

The impact of obesity and adipokines on breast and gynecologic malignancies

The link between obesity and multiple disease comorbidities is well established. In 2003, Calle and colleagues presented the relationship between obesity and several cancer types, including breast, ovarian, and endometrial malignancies. Nearly, 20% of cancer-related deaths in females can be accounted for by obesity. Identifying obesity as a risk factor for cancer led to a focus on the role of fat-secreted cytokines, known as adipokines, on carcinogenesis and tumor progression. Early studies indicated that the adipokine leptin increases cell proliferation, invasion, and inhibition of apoptosis in multiple cancer types. As a greater appreciation of the obesity-cancer link has amassed, we now know that additional adipokines can impact tumorigenesis. A deeper understanding of the adipokine-activated signaling in cancer may identify new treatment strategies irrespective of obesity. Moreover, adipokines may serve as disease biomarkers, harnessing the potential of obesity-associated factors to serve as indicators of treatment response and disease prognosis. As studies investigating obesity and women's cancers continue to expand, it has become evident that breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers are distinctly impacted by adipokines. While complex, these distinct interactions may provide insight into cancer progression in these organs and new opportunities for targeted therapies. This review aims to organize and present the literature from the last 5 years investigating the mechanisms and implications of adipokine signaling in breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancers with a special focus on leptin and adiponectin.

Altered Adipokine Expression in Tumor Microenvironment Promotes Development of Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Obesity is a remarkably important factor for breast carcinogenesis and aggressiveness. The implication of increased BMI in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) development is also well established. A malignancy-promoting role of the adipose tissue has been supposed, where the adipocytes that constitute the majority of stromal cells release pro-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors. Alterations in adipokines and their receptors play significant roles in breast cancer initiation, progression, metastasis, and drug response. Classic adipokines, such as leptin, adiponectin, and resistin, have been extensively studied in breast cancer and connected with breast cancer risk and progression. Notably, new molecules are constantly being discovered and the list is continuously growing. Additionally, substantial progress has been made concerning their differential expression in association with clinical and pathological parameters of tumors and the prognostic and predictive value of their dysregulation in breast cancer carcinogenesis. However, evidence regarding the mechanisms by which adipose tissue is involved in the development of TNBC is lacking. In the present article we comment on current data on the suggested involvement of these mediators in breast cancer development and progression, with particular emphasis on TNBC, to draw attention to the design of novel targeted therapies and biomarkers.

Adipocytokines and Insulin Resistance: Their Role as Benign Breast Disease and Breast Cancer Risk Factors in a High-Prevalence Overweight-Obesity Group of Women over 40 Years Old

Insulin levels, adipocytokines, and inflammatory mediators trigger benign breast disease (BBD) and breast cancer (BC). The relationship between serum adipocytokines levels, overweight-obesity, metabolic disturbs, and BC is unclear. Methods: To analyze the serum levels of the adipocytokines, insulin, and the HOMA IR in women without breast disease, with BBD or BC, and the role of these as risk factors for benign breast disease or breast cancer. Results: Adipsin values > 0.91 and visfatin levels > 1.18 ng/mL represent a risk factor to develop BBD in NBD lean women (OR = 18; and OR = 12). Data in overweight-obese women groups confirm the observation due to insulin levels > 2.6 mU/mL and HOMA IR > 0.78, with OR = 60.2 and 18, respectively; adipsin OR = 26.4, visfatin OR = 12. Breast cancer risk showed a similar behavior: Adipsin risk, adjusted by insulin and visfatin OR = 56 or HOMA IR and visfatin OR = 22.7. Conclusion: Adipose tissue is crucial for premalignant and malignant tissue transformation in women with overweight-obesity. The adipocyte−breast epithelium interaction could trigger a malignant transformation in a continuum, starting with BBD as premalignant disease, especially in overweight-obese women.