Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer that affects women around the world. Despite advances in early detection and treatment, breast cancer remains a leading cause of mortality among women. Recently, the discovery of a protein called Progranulin has shed new light on breast cancer mortality. The study conducted by Breast Cancer Trialists’ Collaborative Group (BCTT) followed a cohort of breast cancer patients to explore the association between Progranulin levels and mortality. This groundbreaking research provides crucial insights into the potential use of Progranulin as a prognostic marker and a potential therapeutic target for breast cancer treatment. In this article, we discuss the findings of the BCTT study and their implications for breast cancer prognosis and treatment.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide and in Korea, with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer accounting for approximately 75% of all breast cancer cases. Compared to hormone-receptor-negative tumors, hormone-receptor-positive tumors have a better prognosis due to the availability of adjuvant endocrine therapy for five years in addition to adjuvant chemotherapy. However, these tumors have a risk of late recurrence, which may occur over many years after treatment. Recent studies have investigated the benefits of extended endocrine therapy for up to 10 years or more in patients with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer.
Progranulin (PGRN) is a secreted glycoprotein recognized as an adipokine involved in diet-induced obesity, insulin resistance, or tumor progression cascade, including proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis. PGRN can enhance proliferation and promote the growth of several cancer cells, including breast cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, hepatic cancer, lung cancer, and genitourinary cancer. Previous studies have reported that preoperative serum PGRN levels have clinical significance for predicting recurrence in patients with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer during adjuvant tamoxifen therapy.
This study aimed to examine whether PGRN levels might be associated with breast cancer mortality. Participants of this study were a cohort of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients who underwent surgery and consented to provide blood samples at the National Cancer Center, Korea, between April 2001 and December 2004. The study analyzed 695 patients, after excluding 161 patients for various reasons. During the follow-up period, 118 breast cancer-specific deaths occurred, with a mortality rate of 12.6 per 104 person-years. The study found that a higher level of PGRN was associated with an increased risk of breast cancer mortality in all cohorts and in the hormone-receptor-positive group. However, it was not observed in the hormone-receptor-negative group.
After adjusting for age, histology, tumor size, lymph node metastasis, and adjuvant chemotherapy, high PGRN levels had a significant association with an increased risk of death in the hormone-receptor-positive group. These findings suggest that PGRN levels could be used as a predictor of breast cancer mortality in patients with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. Further studies are required to determine the clinical utility of PGRN levels in the management of patients with breast cancer.
In conclusion, the findings of this study provide evidence that Progranulin could play a critical role in determining the prognosis of breast cancer patients. The data suggests that higher levels of Progranulin may be associated with increased breast cancer mortality. While further research is needed to confirm these findings, the potential implications for breast cancer treatment and care are substantial. This study highlights the need for increased attention to Progranulin levels in breast cancer patients and could help identify individuals who may benefit from more aggressive treatment or enhanced monitoring. Overall, these findings represent a significant step forward in our understanding of the role that Progranulin plays in cancer biology and could ultimately improve outcomes for individuals with breast cancer.
