Leptin and leptin receptor expression as biomarkers for breast cancer: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Effective screening and treatment have reduced the number of women dying from breast cancer (BC). However, the long-term sequelae of BC treatment and psychosocial factors seriously affect the life quality of BC patients and survivors. Therefore, the discovery and application of targeted biomarkers to improve the functional outcome and life quality of BC patients is necessary. AIMS: To explore the impact of leptin (LEP)/ leptin receptor (LEPR) expression on occurrence and survival of BC. METHODS: Totally 132 primary BC and 66 non-BC patients who underwent surgery in department of breast surgery in Shanxi Cancer Hospital from January to October in 2009 were enrolled in this retrospective study. LEP and LEPR were examined in BC tissues, benign breast tissues, para-carcinoma tissues using immunohistochemical staining. Kaplan-Meier curve was generated to test survival time. RESULTS: The high level expression of LEP and LEPR in BC tissues were significantly higher than that in benign breast tissues and in para-carcinoma tissues (all P < 0.05). The LEP expression in patients with lymph node metastases was significantly higher than that in patients without lymph nodes metastases (P = 0.002). LEPR expression was correlated with higher Ki-67 rate (P = 0.002). LEP and LEPR both had no impact on survival (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: High LEP/LEPR expression were risk factors for occurrence of BC, but without impact on survival.

The Correlation Between the Serum Squamous Carcinoma Antigen and the Prognosis of Recurrent Cervical Squamous Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: To explore the relationship of the serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) with the pathologic characteristics, occurrence, and prognosis of cervical squamous carcinoma. METHODS: The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method was used to determine the serum SCC-Ag levels for the patients, which included 424 pretreatment patients and 500 cases after treatment. RESULTS: (a) Pretreatment SCC-Ag levels of patients were related to clinical stages, lymphatic metastasis, and myometrial invasion, (b) within a median follow-up of 54 months, 180 recurrences (36%) and 102 disease-associated deaths (20.4%) were recorded, 161 recurrent patients showed elevated SCC-Ag levels (161/180, 89.4%), and 60 of them (37.3%) had a significant increase in SCC-Ag serum levels before clinical manifestation of relapse. The lead time ranged between 1 and 5 months (median: 2.3 months). The total survival rates were 23.4% and 17.8% for 3-year and 5-year period, respectively, and (c) clinical stages, the site of recurrence, and SCC-Ag levels after treatment were closely related with recurrent patients' survival time (P < 0.01~<0.005). Multivariate analysis indicated that the clinical stages and SCC-Ag levels of recurrent patients were independent prognostic factors (P < 0.05˜0.01). CONCLUSION: Serum SCC-Ag level was an important predictor for the cervical squamous carcinoma recurrence and prognosis.

Evaluating the significance of expression of CEA mRNA and levels of CEA and its related proteins in colorectal cancer patients.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical significance of expression of CEA mRNA and serum CEA and the related proteins in colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 370 CRC patients and 350 controls. CEA mRNA was determined by RT-PCR and levels of CEA, CA19-9, CA242, and CA724 were examined with chemiluminescence. RESULTS: The positive rate of jointly detecting serum CEA, CA19-9, CA242, and CA724 was significantly higher than CEA mRNA expressions (P < 0.01), both positive rates were significantly correlated with TNM stage, lymph node, and visceral metastasis. The positive rate of jointly detecting in patients with poorly differentiated tumor was significantly higher than that in patients with highly differentiated tumor (P < 0.01). By contrast, CEA mRNA expression was not related with histopathologic grading. Postoperative follow-up found that all patients with high levels of CEA mRNA and serum CEA and the related proteins had liver, lung, pelvis, or other distant metastases. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that high expressions of CEA mRNA and high levels of serum CEA and the related proteins are associated with the incidence and advanced of CRC. In addition, joint detection of serum CEA and the related proteins is more sensitivity than examination of serum CEA mRNA.

[Relationship between the mutation of leptin receptor gene and tumorigenesis of breast cancer].

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of the mutations of leptin receptor gene exon 4, exon 6, exon9, and exon20 with the tumorigenesis of breast cancer. METHODS: Genomic DNA was extracted from breast cancer tissues of 155 patients, benign lesions of 56 patients and normal tissues and blood samples from 100 health control subjects. The leptin receptor genes were assayed with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and direct sequence analysis. RESULTS: Nucleotide substitutions no mutations were found at exon 4, and nucleotide substitutions occurred at codon 1029 in exon 9, no significant difference among the three groups (P = 0.574). The nucleotide substitutions at codon 668 in exon 6 resulted in Gln223Arg polymorphisms. The occurring frequencies of GG, GA, AA in breast cancer, breast benign lesions tissues and health tissues control group were 70.9% and 17.4%, 12.3%; 80.4%, 14.3% and 5.4%; and 81.0%, 16.0%, and 3.0%, respectively. Alleles of G and A in the three groups were 79.1% and 20.8%, 87.5% and 12.5%, and 89.0% and 11.0%, respectively. Compared the Gln223Arg genotype with the three allele groups, there were significant differences (χ(2) = 16.11, P < 0.005 and χ(2) = 11.41, P < 0.01), respectively. The nucleotide substitutions at codon 3057 in exon 20 resulted in Pro1019Pro polymorphisms. The occurrence frequencies of GG, GA, AA in the breast cancer, benign disease and health control groups were 11.6%, 30.3% and 56.1%; 32.1%, 44.0% and 28.5%; and 32.0%, 45.0% And 23.0%, respectively. Alleles of G and A in the three groups were 26.8% and 73.2%, 51.8% and 48.2%, and 54.5% and 45.5%, respectively. There are significant differences among the three groups (χ(2) = 6.56, P < 0.03 and χ(2) = 5.45, P < 0.05), respectively. Nucleotide substitutions occurred at relatively high frequencies at exon 6 and exon 20 in obese and overweight breast cancer patients compared with those in normal weight breast cancer patients, there were significant differences (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that there is no relationship between the variations of leptin receptor gene exon 9 and tumorigenesis of breast cancer. The variation rate of leptin receptor gene exon 6 and exon 20 are significantly increased in the obese and overweight breast cancer patients.

Knockdown of SASS6 reduces growth of MDA­MB­231 triple­negative breast cancer cells through arrest of the cell cycle at the G2/M phase.

Spindle assembly abnormal protein 6 homolog (SASS6) is crucial for centriole duplication; however, the role of SASS6 in the proliferation of cancer cells remains unclear. In the present study, the expression and functional role of SASS6 in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) was assessed. Immunohistochemical staining was performed using an anti­SASS6 antibody in TNBC and normal tissues. Lentivirus­mediated RNA interference was used to knockdown SASS6 in MDA­MB­231 TNBC cells. Cell viability was determined using an MTT assay, and cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were measured using flow cytometry. Additionally, PathScan intracellular signaling arrays were used to detect the presence of intracellular signaling molecules. The results revealed that SASS6 expression was increased in TNBC tissues compared with the control tissue. Moreover, SASS6 knockdown significantly suppressed the growth of MDA­MB­231 cells. MDA­MB­231 cell cycle progression was arrested at the G2/M phase and cyclin dependent kinase 1 (CDK1), cyclin B1 and PCNA expression in MDA­MB­231 cells was decreased following SASS6 knockdown. Furthermore, the phosphorylation of STAT3, BAD and rpS6 was reduced following SASS6 knockdown. A strong correlation between SASS6 and CDK1 expression was observed in TNBC tissues based on immunohistochemical staining analysis (R=0.989; P<0.001). In conclusion, the present study revealed the crucial role of SASS6 in promoting MDA­MB­231 cell growth, regulating cell cycle progression and its ability to downregulate the CDK1/cyclin B1 signaling pathway, thus highlighting the potential of SASS6 as a therapeutic target for treatment of TNBC, and merits further investigation in animal models or in preclinical and clinical studies.

[Expression and clinical significance of nuclear matrix protein 22 and cytokeratin 18 in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the expression and clinical significance of urinary nuclear matrix protein (NMP22) and cytokeratin 18 (CK18) for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. METHODS: Urinary NMP22 and CK18 levels of 293 patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, 400 patients with non-transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, and 105 bladder benign disease were analysed by enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The levels of urinary NMP22 and CK18 in the patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder (M = 17.3 U/ml, M(CK18) = 484.2 U/L) were significantly higher than those in the non-transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder (M = 6.8 U/ml, M(CK18) = 156.0 U/L) and the benign disease group (M(NMP22) = 2.3 U/ml, M(CK18) = 66.6 U/L) (P < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of urinary NMP22 and CK18 were 79.2%, 88.6% and 78.2%, 82.9%, respectively, for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder before any treatment. The joint sensitivity of the two markers was 91.7%. The NMP22 and CK18 levels were significantly lower in the recovered patients after surgical operation (P < 0.01), while in patients with recurrence or metastasis the levels of the markers were significantly higher (P < 0.01). There was a significant relationship between NMP22 and CK18, (r = 0.689, P < 0.01). The levels of urinary nmp22 and CK18 were significantly different among pathological grade G1, G2, G3, and stage Ta, T1, T2, T3 (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: NMP22 and CK18 are useful tumor marker for diagnosis of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and for monitoring the state of illness. The joint use of the two markers can improve the sensitivity of cancer detection. NMP22 and CK18 may become a new class of tumor markers, and to be the basis for development of a new assay with an increased efficacy for the detection and treatment of bladder cancer.

Clinical features of patients with male breast cancer in Shanxi province of China from 2007 to 2016.

This study aims to understand the clinical features, treatment, and prognosis of patients with male breast cancer (MBC) in Shanxi province of China from 2007 to 2016. Data for 77 patients with MBC were collected for analysis. Immunohistochemistry, pathological results, and other data such as demographic characteristics (age, marital status, smoking history, drinking history, and family history of cancer) as well as clinical data were investigated by retrieving information from the patients' medical records. A total of 12,404 patients were diagnosed with breast cancer between 2007 and 2016, and 77 were patients with MBC among them. The median diagnosis age of patients with MBC was 62 years (range, 24-84 years). The most common complaint was a painless lump in the breast, accounting for 68.8% of the patients, and the main pathological type in MBC was infiltrating ductal carcinoma (66.2%). In terms of hormone receptors, 80.5% (62/77) of patients with MBC were estrogen receptor positive, 75.3% (58/77) of patients were progesterone receptor positive, and only 6.5% (5/77) of patients were HER2 overexpressing. The multivariant Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that M stage is an independent prognostic factor (p=0.018, HR=18.791, 95% CI 1.663 to 212.6). The epidemiological and clinical features of Chinese MBC are similar to that of other countries. As the Chinese public have limited knowledge of MBC, it is necessary to increase awareness among them about it. Further research with a large sample size is required for better understanding of the risks associated with MBC.

[The diagnosis and monitoring of transitional cell cancer of the urinary tract through nuclear matrix protein 22].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the urinary nuclear matrix protein (NMP22) as an adjuvant diagnostic index for transitional cell carcinoma of urinary tract and monitoring the state of disease. METHODS: Urinary samples were collected from 262 patients with transitional cell carcinoma, 198 non-transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary tract and 65 patients with benign diseases. Urinary NMP22 concentration was determined through enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The urinary NMP22 concentration had significant difference among the three groups (Kruskal Wallis, chi(2) = 197.17 P < 0.001). The detection sensitivity and specificity of urinary NMP22 to transitional cell carcinoma were 71.37% and 87.69% respectively. The NMP22 concentration showed significant difference among three groups divided according to the pathological grade (Kruskal-Wallis test, chi(2) = 34.06 P < 0.01). The NMP22 concentration was significant lower in the recovery patients after the operation than the peoples of pre-operation and recurrence (Kruskal-Wallis test, chi(2) = 37.53, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: MP22 is a helpful tumor marker for the diagnosis of transitional cell carcinoma and monitoring the state of illness with increased efficacy.

The diagnostic value of serum tumor markers CEA, CA19-9, CA125, CA15-3, and TPS in metastatic breast cancer.

This study aims to understand the diagnostic value of serum tumor markers carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cancer antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), cancer antigen 125 (CA125), cancer antigen 15-3 (CA15-3), and tissue polypeptide-specific antigen (TPS) in metastatic breast cancer (MBC). A total of 164 metastatic breast cancer patients in Shanxi Cancer Hospital were recruited between February 2016 and July 2016. 200 breast cancer patients without metastasis in the same period were randomly selected as the control group. The general characteristics, immunohistochemical, and pathological results were investigated between the two groups, and tumor markers were determined. There were statistical differences in the concentration and the positive rates of CEA, CA19-9, CA125, CA15-3, and TPS between the MBC and control group (P<0.05). The highest sensitivity was in CEA and the highest specificity was in CA125 for the diagnosis of MBC when using a single tumor marker at 56.7% and 97.0%, respectively. In addition, two tumor markers were used for the diagnosis of MBC and the CEA and TPS combination had the highest diagnostic sensitivity with 78.7%, while the CA15-3 and CA125 combination had the highest specificity of 91.5%. Analysis of tumor markers of 164 MBC found that there were statistical differences in the positive rates of CEA and CA15-3 between bone metastases and other metastases (χ2=6.00, P=0.014; χ2=7.32, P=0.007, respectively). The sensitivity and specificity values of the CEA and CA15-3 combination in the diagnosis of bone metastases were 77.1% and 45.8%, respectively. The positive rate of TPS in the lung metastases group was lower than in other metastases (χ2=8.06, P=0.005).There were significant differences in the positive rates of CA15-3 and TPS between liver metastases and other metastases (χ2=15.42, P<0.001; χ2=9.72, P=0.002, respectively). The sensitivity and specificity of the CA15-3 and TPS combination in the diagnosis of liver metastases were 92.3% and 45.6%, respectively, and the positive rate of CEA in triple-negative metastatic breast cancer is lower than in other subtypes (χ2=4.80, P=0.028). Therefore, serum CEA, CA19-9, CA125, CA15-3, and TPS can be used in the diagnosis of MBC, and different combinations of tumor markers have varying diagnostic value.

[Detection and clinical study of serum tumor markers in patients with colorectal cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diagnostic value and clinical significance of serum tumor markers CEA, CA19-9 and CA242 in patients with colorectal cancer. METHODS: The serum levels of CEA, CA19-9 and CA242 were determined by ELISA before surgery in 134 patients with colorectal cancer and in 200 healthy people as a control. RESULTS: The CEA, CA19-9 and CA242 levels in patients were significantly higher than those in controls (P < 0.01, respectively). The sensitivity of CEA and CA242 for colorectal cancer diagnosis was higher than that of CA19-9, and the combined sensitivity of CEA + CA242 and CEA + CA242 + CA19-9 were higher than that of single item or the other two combinations (CEA + CA19-9 and CA19-9 + CA242). In Dukes stages A, B, C and D, serum levels and sensitivity of the three tumor markers were significantly and successively increased. In the cases with lymph node metastasis, levels of the three tumor markers were significantly increased. The markers levels were also significantly and successively increased along with the extent of cancer infiltration. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the combined use of CEA and CA242 or the three markers is an useful adjuvant diagnostic measure for colorectal cancer, and is helpful in the evaluation of lymph node metastasis, degree of invasion and Dukes staging in cancer treatment.

Possible roles of insulin, IGF-1 and IGFBPs in initiation and progression of colorectal cancer.

AIM: To investigate the roles of serum insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) in the initiation and progression of colorectal cancer. METHODS: We determined serum insulin, IGF-1 and IGFBPs levels in 615 colorectal cancer patients and 650 control healthy donors by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In the meantime, their body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were measured. RESULTS: Serum levels of insulin and IGF-1 as well as IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio in pre-operation patients were significantly elevated, but the level of IGFBP-3 was significantly decreased compared with normal controls and post-operation patients (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively). There is no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the levels of insulin, IGF-1, IGFBP-1, IGFBP-3 and IGF-1/IGFBP-3 between the patients with and without hepatic as well as distal abdominal metastases. WHR and BMI of colon cancer patients were positively and significantly correlated with the levels of insulin and IGF-1/IGFBP-3. In contrast, WHR and BMI were negatively correlated with IGFBP-3 level. CONCLUSION: The elevation of insulin, IGF-1 as well as IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio and the reduction of IGFBP-3 may be related to the initiation of colorectal cancer, but they are not related to the progression and outcome of the disease.

Lipid levels in serum and cancerous tissues of colorectal cancer patients.

AIM: To investigate the correlations between lipid metabolism disorder and the occurrence and development of colorectal cancer by monitoring the alterations in lipid levels in cancerous tissue and serum in patients with colorectal cancer. METHODS: The levels of total and free cholesterol (TCH and FCH), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein- cholesterol (HDL-C), apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA-1) and ApoB in serum of 206 patients with colorectal cancer, 70 patients with benign colorectal disease and 300 healthy participants, and in the cancerous tissue and paracancerous tissue of 152 patients with colorectal cancer were measured with an Olympus 600 auto-biochemical analyzer. The obtained data were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Serum FCH level was significantly higher (1.9 ± 0.4 mmol/L vs 1.3 ± 0.3 mmol/L, 1.9 ± 0.4 mmol/L vs 1.2 ± 0.4 mmol/L, P < 0.05), whereas serum levels of TCH, LDL-C, ApoA-I and ApoB were significantly lower in patients with colorectal cancer than in patients with benign colorectal disease and healthy controls. The levels of FCH and TG in cancerous tissue were significantly lower (14.5 ± 9.6 µmol/g vs 19.3 ± 13.9 µmol/g, P < 0.05; 16.3 ± 19.8 µmol/g vs 44.1 ± 38.1 µmol/g, P < 0.05), whereas HDL-C level was significantly higher (7.9 ± 4.5 µmol/g vs 5.7 ± 3.9 µmol/g, P < 0.01) in cancerous tissue than in paracancerous tissue. The levels of TCH and TG in serum and the levels of TCH and HDL-C in cancerous tissue in patients with colorectal cancer were significantly correlated with TNM stage. The levels of TCH and LDL-C in serum were significantly lower, whereas HDL-C level in cancerous tissue was significantly higher in patients with lymph node metastasis than in patients without lymph node metastasis. The levels of TCH, FCH, TG, HDL-C and LDL-C in cancerous tissue were not significantly different from those in paracancerous tissue. The serum levels of FCH and TG were significantly higher, whereas serum HDL-C levels were significantly lower in patients with rectum cancer than in patients with colon cancer. CONCLUSION: The disordered and abnormally altered levels of lipids in cancerous tissue and serum of patients with colorectal cancer may be correlated with the occurrence and development of colorectal cancer.

Tumor markers for diagnosis, monitoring of recurrence and prognosis in patients with upper gastrointestinal tract cancer.

To evaluate the value of combined detection of serum CEA, CA19-9, CA24-2, AFP, CA72-4, SCC, TPA and TPS for the clinical diagnosis of upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT) cancer and to analyze the efficacy of these tumor markers (TMs) in evaluating curative effects and prognosis. A total of 573 patients with upper GIT cancer between January 2004 and December 2007 were enrolled in this study. Serum levels of CEA, CA19-9, CA24-2, AFP, CA72-4, SCC, TPA and TPS were examined preoperatively and every 3 months postoperatively by ELISA. The sensitivity of CEA, CA19-9, CA24-2, AFP, CA72-4, SCC, TPA and TPS were 26.8%, 36.2%, 42.9%, 2.84%, 25.4%, 34.6%, 34.2% and 30.9%, respectively. The combined detection of CEA+CA199+CA242+CA724 had higher sensitivity and specificity in gastric cancer (GC) and cardiac cancer, while CEA+CA199+CA242+SCC was the best combination of diagnosis for esophageal cancer (EC). Elevation of preoperative CEA, CA19-9 and CA24-2, SCC and CA72-4 was significantly associated with pathological types (p<0.05) and TNM staging (p<0.05). Correlation analysis showed that CA24-2 was significantly correlated with CA19-9 (r=0.810, p<0.001). The levels of CEA, CA19-9, CA24-2, CA72-4 and SCC decreased obviously 3 months after operations. When metastasis and recurrence occurred, the levels of TMs significantly increased. On multivariate analysis, high preoperative CA72-4, CA24-2 and SCC served as prognostic factors for cardiac carcinoma, GC and EC, respectively. combined detection of CEA+CA199+CA242+SCC proved to be the most economic and practical strategy in diagnosis of EC; CEA+CA199+CA242+CA724 proved to be a better evaluation indicator for cardiac cancer and GC. CEA and CA19-9, CA24-2, CA72-4 and SCC, examined postoperatively during follow-up, were useful to find early tumor recurrence and metastasis, and evaluate prognosis. AFP, TPA and TPS have no significant value in diagnosis of patients with upper GIT cancer.

Associations among lipids, leptin, and leptin receptor gene Gin223Arg polymorphisms and breast cancer in China.

We evaluated the relationship among the leptin receptor (LEPR) gene Gln223Arg polymorphism, body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumference ratio (WHR), dietary structure, lifestyle, and other biomarkers with breast cancer and determined whether they could be effective for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer. The Gln223Arg polymorphisms in the LEPR gene were investigated in blood deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) available for 240 breast cancer cases and 500 controls. Genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Leptin, insulin were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. We found that the serum levels of leptin, insulin, triglyceride (TG), free cholesterol (FCH), apolipoprotain (APO) A1, and BMI were significantly higher in breast cancer cases than the controls, while physical activity was clearly less in breast cancer cases (P < 0.02 approximately P < 0.001, respectively). Moreover, there were significant association between the Gln223Arg genotype and breast cancer risk; homozygotes for AA and heterozygotes for AG,AG + GG genotypes had been proved to increase the risk of breast cancer, and their corresponding odds ratio were 7.14 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.92-25.64), 1.33(95% CI = 1.03-2.70), and 2.04 (95% CI = 1.09-3.82). Interestingly, logistic regression analysis showed that LEPR gene Gln223Arg polymorphism and elevated leptin, insulin, TG, FCH, APOA1, WHR, and reduced APOB increased the risk of developing breast cancer, respectively. And, it also suggested that LEPR gene Gln223Arg polymorphisms, elevated leptin, insulin, TG, FCH, APOA1, WHR, and reduced APOB should play a major role in the development of breast cancer.

[Association among lipids, leptin and leptin receptor polymorphisms with risk of breast cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between serum level of leptin and leptin receptor gene (LEPR) polymorphism and patients with breast cancer. METHODS: LEPR G1n223Arg polymorphism was detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism in 94 patients with breast cancer and 128 healthy controls. The level of leptin were analyzed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: In univariate regression analyses, we found serum level of leptin and LEPR Gin223Arg genotype polymorphism were significantly higrer than those of the controls (P < 0.05-0.001, respectively). Through multivariable analyses, we found that increased risk estimates for breast cancer were among those with leptin level (OR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.13-2.07, P = 0.006), LEPR Gin223Arg genotype (OR = 4.87, 95%CI:1.30-18.22, P = 0.019), WHR (OR = 3.68, 95% CI: 1.34-10.11, P = 0.011). CONCLUSION: Results from this study suggested that LEPR Gln233Agr polymorphism, the elevated WHR and serum level of leptin might be correlated with increased risk of breast cancer.

Serum levels of leptin, insulin, and lipids in relation to breast cancer in china.

Epidemiological studies have found obesity to be a risk factor for women's breast cancer. The present study was to investigate whether there is a relationship between serum levels of leptin, insulin, and lipids and breast cancer incidence, in order to find experimental evidence that would be helpful in the diagnosis and prevention of breast cancer. Blood samples were collected from 130 patients with mammary disease and 103 healthy control subjects. Serum leptin, insulin, and lipids were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), and Biochemistry Auto-analyzer, respectively. The data analysis was performed by use of the SPSS10.0 computer software. We found that the serum levels of leptin, insulin, and triglyceride (TG) were clearly higher in patients with breast cancer than in patients with benign breast disease and healthy controls, while serum HDL-C levels were lower in breast cancer patients (p < 0.03). Moreover, serum leptin levels were significantly correlated with BMI (body mass index) among three groups, whereas serum insulin levels were unrelated to BMI among three groups. Furthermore, the serum levels of leptin and insulin were not associated with menopausal status in patients with mammary disease (p > 0.05); however, the serum levels of F-Chol, T-Chol, TG, LDL-C, and APOB were significant higher in postmenopausal cases than those in premenopausal cases (p < 0.025). Interestingly, logistic regression analysis showed that subjects with elevated serum levels of leptin, insulin, TG, APOA1, and reduced level of serum HDL-C displayed increased risk of developing breast cancer than those with the normal levels, respectively. In conclusion, the present study suggested that aberrant serum levels of leptin, insulin, and lipids might play an important role in carcinogenesis of breast cancer. The elevated serum levels of leptin, insulin, TG, APOA1, and reduced level of serum HDL-C may be correlated with increased risk of breast cancer, suggesting that one way of preventing breast cancer would be carried out by controlling the intake of food.