Objective: This study aims to determine the association of dyslipidemia and increased insulin resistance (IR) with increased breast cancer (BC) risk.
Materials and methods: The study group comprised 110 premenopausal and 143 postmenopausal, untreated female BC patients in the age range of 29-72 years. Control group consisted of 117 premenopausal and 141 postmenopausal healthy females in the age range of 23-75. Approximately 8-ml blood samples were drawn to measure various biochemical parameters. Serum glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol were measured. Very low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (VLDL-C) and LDL-C were calculated using Friedewald's formula. Serum insulin and serum CA 15-3 were estimated by immune enzymatic assay. IR was assessed using homeostasis model assessment IR index (HOMA-IR).
Results: Clinical variables in the case and control groups were compared using the unpaired Student's t-test. The crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by binary logistic regression analysis. Pearson's correlation analysis was used to determine the association between CA 15-3 and variables of interest. Total cholesterol, TG, LDL, VLDL, serum glucose, serum insulin, HOMA-IR, and serum CA 15-3 were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in BC patients compared to those in controls. Significant adjusted ORs with 95% CI were found to be fasting glucose, total cholesterol, and TGs. We also found a significant positive correlation between total cholesterol, TG, LDL, serum glucose, serum insulin, HOMA-IR, and serum CA 15-3.
Conclusion: This study confirms the association between dyslipidemia, IR, and increased BC risk.
Keywords: Breast cancer; cholesterol; homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance; risk factors.