Mammographic density, blood telomere length and lipid peroxidation

Abstract

Extensive mammographic density is a strong risk factor for breast cancer, but may also be an indicator of biological age. In this study we examined whether mammographic density is related to blood telomere length, a potential marker of susceptibility to age-related disease. We measured mammographic density by a computer assisted method and blood telomere length using a validated PCR method. Urinary malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of lipid peroxidation, was measured in 24 hour urine collections. In the 342 women examined telomere length was negatively correlated with age, was lower in postmenopausal compared to premenopausal women and in smokers compared to non-smokers, and was positively correlated with urinary MDA. Telomere length was not associated with percent mammographic density or dense area, before or after adjustment for risk factors and MDA. However, there was a significant interaction between telomere length and MDA in their association with mammographic density. At lower levels of MDA, mammographic density and telomere length were inversely associated; while at high levels of MDA, there was evidence of a J-shaped association between mammographic density and telomere length. Further work is need to replicate these results and to examine the association of mammographic density with age-related chronic disease and mortality.

Systemic lipid peroxidation profile from patients with breast cancer changes according to the lymph nodal metastasis status

“…Patients over 50 years at diagnosis displayed reduced levels of hydroperoxides when compared to younger patients. Although no studies reporting the lipid peroxidation status in breast cancer women considering their age at diagnosis were found, our findings follow recent evidence that reported a positive relationship between telomere length and urinary levels of lipid peroxidation metabolites in healthy women [ 24 ]. Further, results presented here indicate that the presence of lymph nodal metastasis seems to nullify the differences observed concerning the age of patients.…”

Are pregnancy and parity associated with telomere length? A systematic review

“…All studies, included in the final review, that met eligibility criteria were published between the years 2011–2022. Eight of these studies were conducted in the United States [ 10 , 58 – 60 , 65 – 67 , 69 ], two in Canada [ 63 , 68 ], two in Central America [ 57 , 64 ] one in the Philippines [ 61 ] and one in Israel [ 62 ]. Of the studies assessing parity and TL, three utilized a longitudinal research design [ 10 , 57 , 61 ], seven reported data from a cross-sectional study design [ 58 – 60 , 63 – 66 ] and one study utilized a case control retrospective study design [ 62 ].…”

“…Eight of these studies were conducted in the United States [ 10 , 58 – 60 , 65 – 67 , 69 ], two in Canada [ 63 , 68 ], two in Central America [ 57 , 64 ] one in the Philippines [ 61 ] and one in Israel [ 62 ]. Of the studies assessing parity and TL, three utilized a longitudinal research design [ 10 , 57 , 61 ], seven reported data from a cross-sectional study design [ 58 – 60 , 63 – 66 ] and one study utilized a case control retrospective study design [ 62 ]. All studies assessing TL dynamics throughout pregnancy utilized a longitudinal research design [ 10 , 67 – 69 ].…”

“…Studies assessing telomere dynamics throughout pregnancy concordantly included a narrower range of ages with premenopausal women [ 10 , 67 – 69 ]. Studies assessing parity and TL mostly comprised of a broader range of ages including a mixture of both premenopausal and postmenopausal women [ 57 , 58 , 63 – 66 ], yet some studies included a narrower range of ages of younger premenopausal women [ 10 , 59 – 62 ]. Study sample sizes of studies assessing TL dynamics throughout pregnancy ranged between 32 to 105, with a total of 321 women, and studies assessing TL and parity had larger sample sizes ranging between 60–1554, with a total of 6534 women.…”

“…Postpartum—no significant difference in leukocyte mean TRF length measured within 48 h after delivery and 5–6 months postpartum ( p -value = ns; n = 11), 3. No significant difference in TL between primiparous and multiparous women a ged 30–35 (9540 ± 820 bp primiparous, 9490 ± 840 bp grand-multiparous women, p -value = ns No correlation Parity and TL association as a secondary measurement (Parity as Covariate) Erdman 2017 Canada [ 63 ] Mammographic density, blood telomere length and lipid peroxidation Assessed whether mammographic density (MD) is related to blood telomere length Cross-sectional Recruited from mammographic units in Toronto, Ontario, Canada n = 342 mean 50.4 ± 7.2 Whole Blood qPCR and TRF X1 Parity Yes vs No Age at first child /Binary category No correlations observed of blood TL with traditional breast cancer risk factors, specifically, age at menarche, parity , age at first child or family history of breast cancer No correlation Flannagan 2016 Central America [ 64 ] Sociodemographic correlates and family aggregation of leukocyte telomere length in adults and children from Mesoamerica associations of LTL with sociodemographic and anthropometric variables and estimated LTL family aggregation in Central America Cross-sectional Central America: Belize Costa Ri Hondura Mexico Nicaragua Panama n = 174 < 30–45 > Mean: 37 ± 6.4 Whole Blood qPCR X1 Number of children/ Categories: 1 2 3 ≥ 4 In bivariate analysis, mothers’ LTL was inversely correlated with age and parity parity was not significantly correlated with LTL after adjustment No Correlation Latour 2020 US [ 65 ] Maternal age at last birth and leukocyte TL in a nationally representative population of peri- and postmenopausal women Evaluate if maternal age at birth of last child is associated with leukocyte telomere length Cross-sectional/NHANES Survey—data from1999-2002 n = 1232 40–85 Whole Blood qPCR X1 Number of live births/Categories 1 2 3 4 ≥ 5 …”