title: Increased levels of urinary PGE-M, a biomarker of inflammation, occur in association with obesity, aging, and lung metastases in patients with breast cancer.
abstract: Elevated levels of COX-derived prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) occur in inflamed tissues. To evaluate the potential links between inflammation and breast cancer, levels of urinary prostaglandin E metabolite (PGE-M), a stable end metabolite of PGE2, were quantified. We enrolled 400 patients with breast cancer: controls with early breast cancer (n = 200), lung metastases (n = 100), and metastases to other sites (n = 100). Patients completed a questionnaire, provided urine, and had measurements of height and weight. Urinary PGE-M was quantified by mass spectrometry. Ever smokers with lung metastasis who had not been exposed to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) had the highest PGE-M levels. PGE-M levels were increased in association with elevated body mass index (BMI; P < 0.001), aging (P < 0.001), pack-year smoking history (P = 0.02), lung metastases (P = 0.02), and recent cytotoxic chemotherapy (P = 0.03). Conversely, use of NSAIDs, prototypic inhibitors of COX activity, was associated with reduced PGE-M levels (P < 0.001). On the basis of the current findings, PGE-M is likely to be a useful biomarker for the selection of high-risk subgroups to determine the use of interventions that aim to reduce inflammation and possibly the development and progression of breast cancer, especially in overweight and obese women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 300 E 66th St, New York, NY 10065, USA. morrisp1@mskcc.org
authors.forename: Patrick G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Xi Kathy
authors.initials: XK
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Ginger L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Milne
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.forename: Laura C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Hawks
authors.forename: Chau T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Dang
authors.forename: Shanu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Modi
authors.forename: Monica N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Fornier
authors.forename: Clifford A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hudis
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Dannenberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000652:urine; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000652:urine; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000556:secondary / Q000652:urine; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000652:urine; D011379:Prognosis; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000652:urine*; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D011453:Prostaglandins; C060526:7-hydroxy-5,11-dioxotetranorprostane-1,16-dioic acid