Breast Implants Elicit Local and Systemic Immune Response: Evidence for Breast Cancer Immunosurveillance

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Oncology
• Biomaterials

Background:

• Women with cosmetic implants exhibit lower breast cancer incidence.
• A hypothesis suggests implant-induced foreign body response may trigger protective anticancer immunosurveillance.
• Previous findings indicated elevated antibody responses to breast cancer proteins in women with implants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the immune response in breast tissue of women with and without breast implants.
• To determine if periimplant inflammation influences breast parenchyma immune activity.
• To identify specific immune pathways and antibody responses related to breast implants.

Main Methods:

• Collected blood and breast tissue samples from implant-naive and implant-exposed women.
• Quantified antibody levels against breast cancer proteins using ELISA.
• Analyzed immune-related gene expression and signaling pathways via RT-PCR and RNA sequencing.

Main Results:

• Implant-exposed patients had higher antibodies to mucin-1, estrogen receptor-α, and mammaglobin A.
• Elevated mucin-1 expression was observed in implant-exposed breast tissue.
• RNA sequencing revealed upregulated pathways for B-cell and T-cell activation, and estrogen response in implant-exposed tissue.

Conclusions:

• Periimplant inflammation extends into the breast parenchyma.
• Women with breast implants demonstrate increased B-cell activation in breast tissue.
• Elevated antibody responses to breast cancer antigens are associated with breast implants.