Clinical insights from adiponectin analysis in breast cancer patients reveal its anti-inflammatory properties in non-obese women

Adiponectin is a cytokine reported as a determinant of poor prognosis in women with breast cancer. However, because data regarding its role in breast cancer have been obtained primarily from studies employing overweight or obese women, the adiponectin profile in non-obese women is poorly understood. In this study, we determined adiponectin levels in plasma from non-obese women with breast cancer and investigated a possible correlation with systemic inflammatory status. We determined the plasma adiponectin levels as well as biochemical and oxidative stress parameters in 80 women. Our results revealed that plasma adiponectin levels were affected by chemotherapy, estrogen receptor status, and disease progression. Adiponectin was positively correlated with antioxidant levels, without affecting either the metastatic behavior of disease or patient outcome. These findings highlight adiponectin as a novel player in the endocrine signaling that modulates the oxidative inflammatory response in human breast cancer, and contribute to the understanding of the role of adiponectin in pathological conditions in non-obese women.