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Rakoczy K, Kaczor J, Sołtyk A, Jonderko L, Sędzik M, Lizon J, Lewandowska A, Saczko M, Kulbacka J. Pregnancy, abortion, and birth control methods' complicity with breast cancer occurrence. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2024; 590:112264. [PMID: 38705365 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2024.112264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Reproductive factors play significantly important roles in determining the breast cancer (BC) risk. The impact of pregnancy, abortion, and birth control methods on tumor development remains unclear. It has been found that early full-term pregnancies in young women can lower their lifetime risk of developing the type of cancer in question. However, having a first full-term pregnancy at an older age can increase this risk. The relationship between pregnancy and breast cancer (BC) is, however, much more complicated. Both induced and spontaneous abortions lead to sudden changes in hormonal balance, which could cause different effects on sensitive breast epithelial cells, making abortion a potential risk factor for breast cancer. The influence of hormonal contraception on carcinogenesis is not comprehensively understood, and therefore, more exhaustive analysis of existing data and further investigation is needed. This review explores how the mentioned reproductive factors affect the risk of breast cancer (BC), focusing on the molecular mechanisms that contribute to its complexity. By comprehending this intricate network of relationships, we can develop new strategies for predicting and treating the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Rakoczy
- Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, J. Mikulicza-Radeckiego 5, 50-345, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Justyna Kaczor
- Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, J. Mikulicza-Radeckiego 5, 50-345, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Adam Sołtyk
- Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, J. Mikulicza-Radeckiego 5, 50-345, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Laura Jonderko
- Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, J. Mikulicza-Radeckiego 5, 50-345, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Mikołaj Sędzik
- Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, J. Mikulicza-Radeckiego 5, 50-345, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Julia Lizon
- Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, J. Mikulicza-Radeckiego 5, 50-345, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Anna Lewandowska
- Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, J. Mikulicza-Radeckiego 5, 50-345, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Saczko
- A. Falkiewicz Specialist Hospital in Wroclaw, Warszawska 2, 52-114 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Julita Kulbacka
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 211a, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland; Department of Immunology and Bioelectrochemistry, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, Santariškių 5, 08410, Vilnius, Lithuania.
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Froehlich K, Schmidt A, Heger JI, Al-Kawlani B, Aberl CA, Jeschke U, Loibl S, Markert UR. Breast cancer, placenta and pregnancy. Eur J Cancer 2019; 115:68-78. [PMID: 31121525 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2019.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Revised: 03/03/2019] [Accepted: 03/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed malignancies during pregnancy. Tumours often present characteristics of high malignancy and are hormone receptor negative/HER2 positive or triple negative. In general, pregnancy, including the postpartum period, is associated with a transiently increased risk of developing breast cancer but followed by a long-lasting protective period. Placental metastases are very rare and, thus far, breast cancer metastases in the foetal compartment have not been described. To discuss these apparently contradictory observations, this narrative review resumes immunological and hormonal alterations during pregnancy potentially affecting breast cancer risk as well as tumour growth and behaviour. OBSERVATIONS Upregulation of breast cancer-associated genes involved in immunological and reproductive processes has been observed in parous women and is potentially responsible for a transiently increased risk in pregnancy. In contrast, maternal immunisation and immunoglobulin production against antigens expressed on trophoblast cells, such as specific glycosylation patterns of mucin-1 or RCAS1-associated truncated glycans, seem to prevent breast cancer development in later years. Animal and human studies indicate that T cells are involved in these processes. Several placenta-derived factors, especially kisspeptin, have direct anti-tumour effects. The pregnancy-related increase of estrogen, progesterone, and other hormones influence growth and characteristics of breast cancer while the role of further placenta-secreted factors is still controversially discussed. CONCLUSION Several factors and cells are involved in altered breast cancer risk during and after pregnancy and have potential for developing novel treatment strategies in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolin Froehlich
- University Hospital Jena, Department of Obstetrics, Placenta Lab, Am Klinikum 1, 07747, Jena, Germany
| | - André Schmidt
- University Hospital Jena, Department of Obstetrics, Placenta Lab, Am Klinikum 1, 07747, Jena, Germany
| | - Julia Isabell Heger
- University Hospital Jena, Department of Obstetrics, Placenta Lab, Am Klinikum 1, 07747, Jena, Germany
| | - Boodor Al-Kawlani
- University Hospital Jena, Department of Obstetrics, Placenta Lab, Am Klinikum 1, 07747, Jena, Germany
| | - Caroline Anna Aberl
- LMU München, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Maistrasse 11, 80337, Munich, Germany
| | - Udo Jeschke
- LMU München, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Maistrasse 11, 80337, Munich, Germany
| | - Sibylle Loibl
- German Breast Group, c/o GBG-Forschungs GmbH, Martin-Behaim-Str 12, 63263, Neu-Isenburg, Germany
| | - Udo Rudolf Markert
- University Hospital Jena, Department of Obstetrics, Placenta Lab, Am Klinikum 1, 07747, Jena, Germany.
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