Association of Serum Adiponectin and Leptin Levels with Breast Cancer in Iraqi Women

摘要

Obesity has been associated with an increased risk of cancer especially postmenopausal breast cancer. Adipokines have been hypothesized to underlie this association. Adiponectin and leptin are adipocyte-secreted hormones that opposite each other not only in their biological activities but also in their effects on breast neoplastic cells. in addition, Leptin receptor, found in both membrane-bound isoforms and a soluble form (sOB-R), sOB-R bind to leptin in circulation and correlate with its activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum levels of adiponectin, leptin and sOB-R with breast cancer. Methods: In a case-control study Serum adiponectin, leptin and sOB-R levels were measured by enzyme-linked Immunosorbent assay in 48 women with histologically confirmed breast cancer and compared with 41 age and BMI matched women without breast cancer as control groups. Control groups were divided into; Control group 1 (C1) contains 26 healthy women and control group 2(C2) contains 15 women with breast benign diseases. Results: The mean serum levels of adiponectin in both controls (C1 and C2) were signi?cantly higher than that in breast cancer cases (25.08±5.59and 22.49±3.49) versus (15.84±6.21) respectively. Conversely, the mean serum levels of leptin in both controls (C1 and C2) were signi?cantly lower than that in breast cancer cases (27.98±6.85 and 34.50±10.59) versus (48.97±24.56) respectively. Higher circulating levels of sOB-R (140.21±74.20) were significantly associated with an increased risk of breast cancer as compared to controls (47.13±38.30 and 27.68±23.58) for C1 and C2 respectively. In addition, the association of BMI with breast cancer was non-significant. Conclusion: These data suggest that dysregulation in hormones (adipokines) secreted by adipose tissue may be associated with breast cancer independently of BMI. Further prospective studies examining the role of adipokines in the etiology of breast cancer are warranted.