Leptin and leptin receptor involvement in cancer development: a study on human primary breast carcinoma

  • Authors:
    • Thierry Jardé
    • Florence Caldefie-Chézet
    • Mireille Damez
    • Florence Mishellany
    • Frédérique Penault-Llorca
    • Jean Guillot
    • Marie Paule Vasson
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: April 1, 2008     https://doi.org/10.3892/or.19.4.905
  • Pages: 905-911
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Abstract

Obesity is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. Leptin, a hormone synthesised essentially by adipose tissue, may be involved in cancer development. We examined the expression of leptin and leptin receptor (Ob-R) in human primary breast cancer and adjacent non-cancerous tissue. We also analysed their relationships with histological variables such as the oestrogen and progesterone receptors, Ki67 proliferation factor and tumour size. The expressions of leptin and Ob-R were investigated by immunohistochemical staining in 35 primary breast cancers and 17 adjacent non-cancerous tissues. Samples and histological features were obtained from the Anti-Cancer Centre. Expressions of leptin and Ob-R were detected in, respectively, 85 and 75% of the primary breast cancer cases studied. The expression of leptin was significantly correlated with Ob-R detection (p=0.008). In addition, Ob-R expression in primary breast carcinoma was positively correlated with oestrogen receptor expression (p=0.028) and tumour size (p=0.045) but not with Ki67 or progesterone receptor expressions. However, the expression of leptin showed no statistical correlation with these variables. First, the co-expression of leptin and Ob-R in primary breast cancer shows that leptin acts on mammary tumour cells via an autocrine pathway. Second, the co-expression of Ob-R and oestrogen receptors suggests a possible interaction between leptin and oestrogen systems to promote breast carcinogenesis. Finally, the fact that Ob-R expression was positively correlated with tumour size may point to a potential role of leptin as a growth factor and of Ob-R as a new prognostic factor.

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April 2008
Volume 19 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1021-335X
Online ISSN:1791-2431

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Spandidos Publications style
Jardé T, Caldefie-Chézet F, Damez M, Mishellany F, Penault-Llorca F, Guillot J and Vasson MP: Leptin and leptin receptor involvement in cancer development: a study on human primary breast carcinoma. Oncol Rep 19: 905-911, 2008.
APA
Jardé, T., Caldefie-Chézet, F., Damez, M., Mishellany, F., Penault-Llorca, F., Guillot, J., & Vasson, M.P. (2008). Leptin and leptin receptor involvement in cancer development: a study on human primary breast carcinoma. Oncology Reports, 19, 905-911. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.19.4.905
MLA
Jardé, T., Caldefie-Chézet, F., Damez, M., Mishellany, F., Penault-Llorca, F., Guillot, J., Vasson, M. P."Leptin and leptin receptor involvement in cancer development: a study on human primary breast carcinoma". Oncology Reports 19.4 (2008): 905-911.
Chicago
Jardé, T., Caldefie-Chézet, F., Damez, M., Mishellany, F., Penault-Llorca, F., Guillot, J., Vasson, M. P."Leptin and leptin receptor involvement in cancer development: a study on human primary breast carcinoma". Oncology Reports 19, no. 4 (2008): 905-911. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.19.4.905