Obesity-related proteins score as a potential marker of breast cancer risk

• Published in: Scientific reports 2021-04, Vol.11 (1), p.8230-8230, Article 8230
• Main Authors: Diao, Sha, Wu, Xueyao, Zhang, Xiaofan, Hao, Yu, Xu, Bin, Li, Xu, Tian, Lulu, Miao, Yunqi, Zhao, Xunying, Ye, Feng, Li, Jiayuan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 631/67; 692/499; 692/53; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biomarkers - analysis; Biomarkers - blood; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - blood; Breast Neoplasms - diagnosis; Breast Neoplasms - epidemiology; Breast Neoplasms - etiology; Case-Control Studies; China - epidemiology; Female; Health risks; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Middle Aged; multidisciplinary; Obesity; Obesity - blood; Obesity - diagnosis; Obesity - epidemiology; Population studies; Post-menopause; Postmenopause - blood; Premenopause - blood; Proteins; Research Design; Risk Factors; Science; Science (multidisciplinary)
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-87583-3

There is strong evidence to suggest that obesity-related proteins play a key role in pathways that are related to breast cancer. In this study, we aimed to establish a robust obesity-related protein score (ORPS) that could be used to assess breast cancer risk. Based on evidence from high-quality systematic reviews and population studies, we selected nine such proteins that are stable in vitro, and measured their circulating concentrations by ELISA in a case–control study conducted in Chengdu, Sichuan, China, with 279 breast cancer cases and 260 healthy controls. Two obesity-related protein scores (ORPS) were calculated using a three-step method, with linear-weighted summation, and the one with a larger area under the curve was chosen for further evaluation. As a result, ORPS (PS 5pre or PS 4post ) was positively correlated with breast cancer risk (premenopausal: OR ≤63 VS >63 3.696, 95% CI 2.025–6.747; postmenopausal: OR ≤38 VS >38 7.100, 95% CI 3.134–16.084), and represented a better risk predictor among obese women compared to non-obese in pre- and postmenopausal women. Among different molecular subtypes, ORPS was positively correlated with Luminal breast cancer, with additionally positive association with triple-negative breast cancer in premenopausal women. The ORPS might be a potential marker of breast cancer risk among Chinese women.