Validation of plasma proneurotensin as a novel biomarker for the prediction of incident breast cancer.

• Background: High fasting plasma proneurotensin concentration was associated with the development of breast cancer in the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study (MDCS). Here we aimed at replicating the initial finding in an independent second cohort. Methods: The Malmö Preventive Project (MPP) is a population study and comprised 18 240 subjects when examined 2002-2006. Of women without history of breast cancer at examination, we included all who developed breast cancer during follow-up (n=130) until December 31st 2010 and a random sample of women without breast cancer until end of follow-up (n=1439) for baseline plasma proneurotensin assessment (mean age 70.0±4.4 years). Proneurotensin was measured in fasted plasma samples and was related to the risk of later breast cancer development using multivariate logistic regression. Results: Proneurotensin (odds ratio [OR] per SD increment of log-transformed proneurotensin) was significantly related to incident breast cancer (OR, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.79-2.44; P < 0.001; adjusted for age, BMI, smoking and hormone replacement therapy). The effect estimate in MPP was larger than in the discovery cohort (MDCS) with the main difference between the two cohorts being that women of the MPP study were on the average about 10 years older and follow-up time shorter compared to the MDCS. Conclusion: As initially found in the MDCS, fasting plasma proneurotensin was significantly associated with the development of breast cancer also in the MPP study. Impact: Measurement of plasma proneurotensin warrants further investigation as a blood based marker for early breast cancer detection.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Cancer och onkologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cancer and Oncology (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

art (subject category)

ref (subject category)