TY - JOUR AB - 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. AD - Faculté de Pharmacie, EA2416, Laboratoire de Biochimie, Biologie Moléculaire et Nutrition, Université Clermont 1, 63001 Clermont-Ferrand Cedex 1, France. thierry.jarde@u-clermont1.fr null AU - Jardé,Thierry AU - Caldefie-Chézet,Florence AU - Damez,Mireille AU - Mishellany,Florence AU - Penault-Llorca,Frédérique AU - Guillot,Jean AU - Vasson,Marie,Paule DA - 2008/04/01 DO - 10.3892/or.19.4.905 EP - 911 IS - 4 JO - Oncol Rep PY - 2008 SN - 1021-335X 1791-2431 SP - 905 ST - Leptin and leptin receptor involvement in cancer development: a study on human primary breast carcinoma T2 - Oncology Reports TI - Leptin and leptin receptor involvement in cancer development: a study on human primary breast carcinoma UR - https://doi.org/10.3892/or.19.4.905 VL - 19 ER -