Can high systemic inflammation biomarkers during puberty result in breast cancer?

Devyani Goswami, Amity University Kolkata

Breast cancer has become one of the common diseases affecting both men and women worldwide, though most common in women as of yet. There are multifactorial reasons for the formation of breast cancer, depending on the type of breast cancer. A common trait observed in all cancer patients is an increase in the percentage of the inflammatory complexes in the blood.

Systemic inflammation occurs when there is a release of pro-inflammatory cytokines from immune cells. Systemic inflammation is considered to play a major role in shaping the breast composition. The systemic inflammatory biomarkers include interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα), and C-reactive protein (CRP). A higher level of these biomarkers in the blood can become the major factor for the formation of breast cancer. These biomarkers elevate due to tissue damage, response to infection, obesity. These cytokines can elevate the level of estrogen, which are predominantly high during puberty period of girls. A higher level of hormones along with higher levels of inflammatory biomarkers, increases breast density, thereby higher the risk of development of breast cancer in the latter part of life. 

A study was conducted including 397 girls, their blood samples were collected at Tanner stage 2 and tanner stage 4, breast density was measured in the Tanner stage 4. Their birth weight, height, fat percentage, ethnicity was also considered in this study. 

The study concluded that the association between inflammatory biomarkers and adolescent breast density was mainly depended on the fat percentage of the individual. Although pieces of evidence suggest that high adiposity can cause an increase in estrogen level and systemic inflammatory biomarkers. The exact mechanism by which inflammation results in the high breast density yet remains unknown. 

REFERENCE: Association between indicators of systemic inflammation biomarkers during puberty with breast cancer and the onset of menarche – Karin B. Michels, Kristen Keller, Ana Pereira, Claire E. Kim, Jose L. Santos, John Shepherd, Camila Corvalan, Alexandra M. Binder.

https://breast-cancer-research.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13058-020-01338-y

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