Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
Metabolomics is a promising molecular tool for identifying novel etiological pathways leading to cancer. In an earlier prospective study among pre- and postmenopausal women not using exogenous hormones, we observed a higher risk of breast cancer associated with higher blood concentrations of one metabolite (acetylcarnitine) and a lower risk associated with higher blood concentrations of seven others (arginine, asparagine, phosphatidylcholines (PCs) aa C36:3, ae C34:2, ae C36:2, ae C36:3, and ae C38:2).Methods
To identify determinants of these breast cancer-related metabolites, we conducted a cross-sectional analysis to identify their lifestyle and anthropometric correlates in 2358 women, who were previously included as controls in case-control studies nested within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort and not using exogenous hormones at blood collection. Associations of each metabolite concentration with 42 variables were assessed using linear regression models in a discovery set of 1572 participants. Significant associations were evaluated in a validation set (n = 786).Results
For the metabolites previously associated with a lower risk of breast cancer, concentrations of PCs ae C34:2, C36:2, C36:3, and C38:2 were negatively associated with adiposity and positively associated with total and saturated fat intakes. PC ae C36:2 was also negatively associated with alcohol consumption and positively associated with two scores reflecting adherence to a healthy lifestyle. Asparagine concentration was negatively associated with adiposity. Arginine and PC aa C36:3 concentrations were not associated to any of the factors examined. For the metabolite previously associated with a higher risk of breast cancer, acetylcarnitine, a positive association with age was observed.Conclusions
These associations may indicate possible mechanisms underlying associations between lifestyle and anthropometric factors, and risk of breast cancer. Further research is needed to identify potential non-lifestyle correlates of the metabolites investigated.
SUBMITTER: His M
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8662901 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
His Mathilde M Viallon Vivian V Dossus Laure L Schmidt Julie A JA Travis Ruth C RC Gunter Marc J MJ Overvad Kim K Kyrø Cecilie C Tjønneland Anne A Lécuyer Lucie L Rothwell Joseph A JA Severi Gianluca G Johnson Theron T Katzke Verena V Schulze Matthias B MB Masala Giovanna G Sieri Sabina S Panico Salvatore S Tumino Rosario R Macciotta Alessandra A Boer Jolanda M A JMA Monninkhof Evelyn M EM Olsen Karina Standahl KS Nøst Therese H TH Sandanger Torkjel M TM Agudo Antonio A Sánchez Maria-Jose MJ Amiano Pilar P Colorado-Yohar Sandra M SM Ardanaz Eva E Vidman Linda L Winkvist Anna A Heath Alicia K AK Weiderpass Elisabete E Huybrechts Inge I Rinaldi Sabina S
BMC medicine 20211210 1
<h4>Background</h4>Metabolomics is a promising molecular tool for identifying novel etiological pathways leading to cancer. In an earlier prospective study among pre- and postmenopausal women not using exogenous hormones, we observed a higher risk of breast cancer associated with higher blood concentrations of one metabolite (acetylcarnitine) and a lower risk associated with higher blood concentrations of seven others (arginine, asparagine, phosphatidylcholines (PCs) aa C36:3, ae C34:2, ae C36:2 ...[more]