Significantly Lower Serum Adiponectin Levels in the Postmenopausal Age may be Specific for Breast Cancer Risk

Abstract

Introduction:To date, biomarkers have played a minimal role in the early diagnosis of breast cancer. Although its effects on metabolism are not well known, studies have shown that hypoadiponectinaemia is associated with increased insulin resistance and risk for type-2 diabetes. We aimed to investigate the value of adiponectin together with laboratory results, anthropometric measurements and histopathological findings in assessing the risk of breast cancer and for use in early diagnosis.Methods:In this study, serum samples were obtained from 59 recently diagnosed breast cancer patients and 47 cancerfree controls aged between 22 and 82 years to assay serum adiponectin, lipids, fasting blood glucose and insulin; homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and body mass index were calculated using the anthropometric measurements. Histopathologic findings were extracted from the patients’ files.Results:Our results revealed that adiponectin serum levels and HOMA-IR values were significantly different between patients and controls. In addition, serum adiponectin levels were lower in postmenopausal breast cancer patients compared to the controls (p=0.03).Conclusion:In fact, a serum adiponectin level below 4.46 mg/L may be in favour of postmenopausal breast cancer (area under the curve =70%). However, Cerb-B2 expression in patients did not correlate with serum adiponectin levels. These findings have implications for further research on adiponectin as well as the in early diagnosis of postmenopausal breast cancer with possibly higher test sensitivity.

Keywords

• adiponectin
• insulin resistance
• early diagnosis of breast cancer
• body mass index
• serum lipids