Serum Uric Acid Levels and the Risk of Breast Cancer and Benign Breast Tumors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Serum uric acid (SUA) has been implicated in various pathological conditions, yet its association with breast pathology remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate the association between SUA levels and breast cancer (BC) and benign breast tumors (BBT) risk through systematic review and meta-analysis.

A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, Weipu Database, and China Biology Medicine disc (CBMdisc) from inception to July 31, 2024. Eligible studies included cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort studies investigating the relationship between BC, BBT, and SUA. Data extraction was independently performed by two reviewers. The methodological quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). STATA V 13.0 software was used for statistical analysis.

Sixteen studies (21,760 participants: 1037 BC, 220 BBT, 20,503 controls) were included. Overall, BC patients showed no significant SUA compared to controls (SMD = 0.05, 95% CI: -0.31 to 0.40, p = 0.80, I ² = 93.5%). However, female BC subgroups exhibited elevated SUA (SMD = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.28-0.89, p < 0.001, I ² = 79.8%), while BBT patients demonstrated marked SUA increases (SMD = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.19-0.58, p < 0.001; I ² = 0%).

Elevated SUA levels are positively associated with the risk of BC and BBT in females. Although SUA may serve as a potential therapeutic target and diagnostic biomarker, these associations require further validation through prospective studies and randomized controlled trials.