Adipokines in hereditary breast cancer patients and healthy relatives

The role of adipocytokines and ghrelin in hereditary breast cancer syndrome (HBCS) has never been tested.

No significant differences in leptin, adiponectin and ghrelin plasma levels between cancer patients and healthy subjects was observed. Conversely, an higher level of adiponectin was shown in healthy subjects with BRCA 1/2 gene mutation vs those without (p < 0.03). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that Adiponectin plasma level (OR 0.26; 95% CI:0.007-0.81; p < 0.02) and age (OR 5.51; 95% CI:1.78-19.71; p < 0.004) were the only factors independently associated with BMI; furthermore, Leptin plasma level (OR 0.23; 95% CI:0.06-0.76; p < 0.01) and age (OR 0.05; 95% CI:0.05-0.61; p < 0.007) resulted the only factors significantly associated with breast cancer.

We analyzed blood plasma expression of leptin, adiponectin and ghrelin using Bio-Plex platform in 25 breast cancer patients with HBCS and in 38 healthy relatives. BRCA 1/2 gene status (presence of pathogenic mutations by direct molecular sequencing), clinical-pathological characteristics and Body Mass Index (BMI) of each subject were recorded.

Adiponectin confirms to be associated with BMI also in subjects with HBCS. Leptin plasma level seems a direct and independent biomarker of a breast cancer risk. A validation of Leptin as a circulating biomarker of breast cancer development in larger series of HBCS subjects is needed.