title: Antioxidant vitamins and cytokines are altered in breast cancer.
abstract: A case-control study was conducted to assess the levels of α-tocopherol, retinol, and β-carotene in different tissues and the genetic expression of inflammatory mediators in women with breast cancer. The study included 51 women divided into two groups: case (n = 25) and benign breast disease (n = 26). We evaluated the dietary intake of α-tocopherol, retinol, and β-carotene and measured plasma and tissue concentrations of these compounds and the inflammatory mediators IL-8, IL-10, and IFNγ. The benign breast disease group showed greater ingestion of α-tocopherol (P = 0.04) and β-carotene (P = 0.011). The concentration of tissue α-tocopherol was reduced in the case group (P = 0.005). The expression of IL-10, IL-8, and IFNγ increased by 231.0, 49.1, and 57.5%, respectively in the case group. The results show that antioxidant nutrients possibly exert biological effects in preventing breast cancer and the immune response is activated in the course of the disease, given the increased expression of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory compounds with the aid of food.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Biology, Laboratory of Immunology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil. monisevianaufv@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Monise Viana
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Abranches
authors.forename: Maria Carolina Santos
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Mendes
authors.forename: Georgia das Graças
authors.initials: Gd
authors.lastname: Pena
authors.forename: Yara Cristina de Paiva
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Maia
authors.forename: Sônia Machado Rocha
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Sylvia do Carmo Castro
authors.initials: Sdo C
authors.lastname: Franceschini
authors.forename: Sérgio Oliveira
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: de Paula
authors.forename: Renata Nascimento
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: de Freitas
authors.forename: Maria Carmo Gouveia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Peluzio
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001940:Breast / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000378:metabolism; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000378:metabolism; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D016207:Cytokines; D016209:Interleukin-8; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol