Association of Lipid Profile Biomarkers with Breast Cancer by Molecular Subtype: analysis of the Mechanisms for Established and Novel Risk Factors for Breast Cancer in Women of African Descent (MEND) study

: There is conflicting evidence on the role of lipid biomarkers in breast cancer (BC), and no study to our knowledge has examined this association among African women. : We estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for the association of lipid biomarkers – total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglycerides – with odds of BC overall and by subtype (Luminal A, Luminal B, HER2-enriched and triple-negative or TNBC) for 296 newly diagnosed BC cases and 116 healthy controls in Nigeria. : Cases were slightly older than controls (48.5 vs. 46.0) and had a lower BMI (25.4 vs. 26.5). Each unit SD increase in triglycerides was associated with 39% increased odds of BC in fully adjusted models (aOR: 1.39; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.86). However, there were no significant associations of total cholesterol, LDL and HDL with odds of breast cancer in fully adjusted models. In analysis of molecular subtypes, each unit SD increase in LDL was associated with 64% increased odds of Luminal B BC (aOR 1.64; 95% CI: 1.06, 2.55). Each unit SD decrease in HDL was associated with 49% increased odds of TNBC (aOR: 1.49, 95% CI: 0.94, 2.34), and clinically low HDL was associated with 2.7 times increased odds of TNBC (aOR 2.67; 95% CI: 1.10, 6.49). : Low HDL and high LDL appear to significantly increase the odds of TN and Luminal B BC, among African women. Future prospective studies can characterize this association and inform clinical approaches targeting HDL as a BC prevention strategy.

Duke Scholars

Author Tomi Akinyemiju Population Health Sciences