Causal roles of cathepsins family members in breast cancer subtypes: insights from Mendelian randomization and bioinformatics analysis

This study provides multi-layered evidence for the association between members of the cathepsin family (particularly CTSE and CTSO) and breast cancer subtypes through MR analysis, bioinformatics validation, and cellular experiments. The findings highlight the potential of these markers as subtype-specific biomarkers for precision diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis evaluation in breast cancer. These results deepen our understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying breast cancer and offer both experimental and theoretical support for the development of novel therapeutic strategies targeting the cathepsin family.