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ONCOLOGY / BASIC RESEARCH
Causal associations between blood metabolites and breast cancer
1
Department of Pathology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Nangang, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
2
Department of Colorectal Cancer Surgery, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Nangang, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
Submission date: 2024-02-06
Final revision date: 2024-04-12
Acceptance date: 2024-05-04
Online publication date: 2024-06-07
Publication date: 2025-02-28
Corresponding author
Chun Du
Department of Pathology Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Harbin Medical University No. 157, Health Road Nangang, Harbin 150081 Heilongjiang, China
Department of Pathology Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Harbin Medical University No. 157, Health Road Nangang, Harbin 150081 Heilongjiang, China
Arch Med Sci 2025;21(1):206-214
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
The associations between blood metabolites and breast cancer remain unclear. We conducted a systematic two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to identify key human blood metabolites and potential biomarkers for breast cancer development.
Material and methods:
The data were extracted from large-scale genome-wide association study (GWAS) public databases. Instrumental variables were selected from a cohort study of 453 metabolic profiles from 7,824 participants. Breast cancer incidence data were obtained from a large cohort study involving 138,389 cases and 240,341 controls. Causal associations between human blood metabolites and breast cancer incidence were assessed using inverse-variance weighting, and MR-Egger regression.
Results:
Five human blood metabolites were identified as biomarkers for breast cancer: serine (OR = 2.25; 95% CI: 1.18–4.27), 10-undecenoate (11:1n1) (OR = 1.38; 95% CI: 1.00–1.90), X-12696 (OR = 2.15; 95% CI: 1.14–4.08), X-14626 (OR = 1.68; 95% CI: 1.15–2.46), and succinyl carnitine (OR = 1.58; 95% CI: 1.06–2.34). The sensitivity analysis results indicate no pleiotropy between the metabolites and breast cancer risk, confirming the robustness of the findings.
Conclusions:
This study in metabolomics research identified five human blood metabolites – serine, 10-undecenoate (11:1n1), X-12696, X-14626, and succinylcarnitine – as potential biomarkers for assessing breast cancer risk. Among these metabolites, serine and X-12696 showed the strongest associations with the likelihood of developing breast cancer.
The associations between blood metabolites and breast cancer remain unclear. We conducted a systematic two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to identify key human blood metabolites and potential biomarkers for breast cancer development.
Material and methods:
The data were extracted from large-scale genome-wide association study (GWAS) public databases. Instrumental variables were selected from a cohort study of 453 metabolic profiles from 7,824 participants. Breast cancer incidence data were obtained from a large cohort study involving 138,389 cases and 240,341 controls. Causal associations between human blood metabolites and breast cancer incidence were assessed using inverse-variance weighting, and MR-Egger regression.
Results:
Five human blood metabolites were identified as biomarkers for breast cancer: serine (OR = 2.25; 95% CI: 1.18–4.27), 10-undecenoate (11:1n1) (OR = 1.38; 95% CI: 1.00–1.90), X-12696 (OR = 2.15; 95% CI: 1.14–4.08), X-14626 (OR = 1.68; 95% CI: 1.15–2.46), and succinyl carnitine (OR = 1.58; 95% CI: 1.06–2.34). The sensitivity analysis results indicate no pleiotropy between the metabolites and breast cancer risk, confirming the robustness of the findings.
Conclusions:
This study in metabolomics research identified five human blood metabolites – serine, 10-undecenoate (11:1n1), X-12696, X-14626, and succinylcarnitine – as potential biomarkers for assessing breast cancer risk. Among these metabolites, serine and X-12696 showed the strongest associations with the likelihood of developing breast cancer.
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| eISSN: | 1896-9151 |
| ISSN: | 1734-1922 |
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