Comparison of Serum Leptin Levels among Patients with Benign or Malignant Breast Lesions

Background: Studies have shown that obese individuals are at increased riskof breast cancer development and poorer prognosis. Leptin, an adipose tissuederivedhormone, has pro-inflammatory and proliferative effects and a wellestablishedassociation with several comorbidities of obesity. This study wasdesigned and conducted to compare the serum levels of leptin in patients withmalignant and benign breast lesions.Methods:Across-sectional study was conducted in Research Center of CancerInstitute, Tehran, Iran between 2010 and 2011. Sixty-five patients with breastcancer and 65 BMI-matched patients with benign breast lesions were enrolled inthis study. The serum leptin level was measured by the ELISA method andcompared between the two groups.Results: A total of 130 patients were collected. The mean BMI in benign andmalignant groups was 25.2±3.2 and 25.8±3.8 (kg/m ), respectively. Circulating 2levels of leptin were 20.05±14.69 vs. 14.74±10.16 mL in malignant and benigngroups, respectively (P=0.011).Apositive correlation was observed between BMIand leptin concentration (r = 0.431, P < 0.001). Leptins levels were not associatedwith the patients’age (P= 0.108), menstrual status (P= 0.214), and history of OCPuse (P= 0.269).Conclusions: Our findings suggest that patients with breast cancer havesignificantly higher levels of leptin compared to those with benign lesions.

Comparison of Serum Leptin Levels among Patients with Benign or Malignant Breast Lesions Keywords:

Leptin , benign tumor , breast cancer