Dysregulation of adipokines in the serum of breast cancer patients – role in pathogenesis and potential clinical application (preliminary studies)

Introduction: The pathogenesis and diagnosis of breast cancer remain the subject of intensive research, as many aspects of these processes still require further elucidation. The dominant component of breast tissue stroma, adipose tissue, is composed of adipocytes, which secrete various cytokines, including adipokines, whose role in breast cancer is not fully understood. Methods: In this study, selected new adipokines were measured for the first time, including: progranulin (PGRN), follistatin-like protein 1 (FSTL1), asprosin (Asp), meteorin (METRN), adipsin (CFD), nesfatin (NES1), neuregulin 4 (NRG4), and isthmin (ISM1) in the serum of breast cancer patients, divided according to the molecular subtype and grade of the tumor. For the first time, the relationship between the adipokines studied and numerous standard laboratory parameters was also analyzed. Results: The study revealed a statistically significant difference in serum concentrations of adipsin and isthmin in breast cancer patients compared to the reference group, which may indicate systemic immune and inflammatory response disorders involving the studied adipokines. Discussion: The correlations between the studied adipokines in the course of breast cancer indicate their multifaceted effects on the pathogenesis of breast cancer, which requires further detailed research.