Abstract:

Objective   To investigate the association between breast cancer and serum levels of adiponectin and leptin.  Methods   Data from 123 patients who were histologically diagnosed as breast cancer were collected through an epidemiological survey in China. Discounting the patients who refused to have blood specimens collected, 43 patients with breast cancer were enrolled. Then in the ratio of 1∶1, 43 women who attended the physical check-up but without evidence of breast cancer were included as the control. The pairing standards were of the same communities and ages(±3 years). Serum levels of adiponectin and leptin were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) for final statistical analysis, such as paired t-test, χ2 test and conditional logistic regression analysis. Results   Compared to the control group, serum levels of leptin in breast cancer patients were increased, while serum levels of adiponectin and the adiponectin/leptin ratio were decreased. After conditional logistic regression analysis, the adiponectin/leptin ratio was found to be significantly correlated to breast cancer(OR=6.33,95%CI:1.87～21.40, P＜0.01). Conclusion   The breast cancer group had lower serum adiponectin levels and higher serum leptin levels than the control group. The adiponectin/leptin ratio was more closely correlated to the breast cancer compared with the adiponectin or leptin levels alone. 

Key words: Breast neoplasm; Adiponectin; Leptin; Adiponectin/leptin ratio; Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay