Endothelial Function in Postmenopausal Women: The Possible Role of Heat Shock Protein 60 and Serum Androgens

Postmenopausal women treated for breast cancer with insulin resistance: clinical, analytical, cross-sectional

This study aims to investigate the potential association between serum levels of cytokines, HSP60, HSP70 and IR (HOMA-IR) in postmenopausal women. We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 381 postmenopausal women, including 94 with a breast cancer diagnosis and 278 without. We analyzed anthropometric and laboratory measurements. Immunoassays were used to measure cytokines (TNF-α, IL-10, and IL-6) as well as heat shock proteins (HSP) 60 and 70 in the serum using the ELISA technique. Women diagnosed with breast cancer showed higher levels of HOMA-IR, IL-6, TNF, and HSP60, and lower levels of IL-10 and HSP70 compared to women without cancer. An association was found between HSP70 and HOMA-IR only in women with breast cancer (β = 0.22, p = .030; without cancer: β = 0.04, p = .404), regardless of age, waist circumference, smoking, and physical activity. No associations were observed between cytokines, HSP60, and HOMA-IR in both groups of women. HSP70 is positively associated with IR in women diagnosed with breast cancer.