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. 2023 Mar 15;42(2):249-257. doi: 10.5937/jomb0-37386

Serum fetuin-A and RANKL levels in patients with early stage breast cancer

Serum fetuin-A i nivoi RANKLa kod pacijenata sa ranim stadijom raka dojke

Cigdem Usul Afsar 1, Hale Aral 2, Orçun Can 1, Trabulus Didem Can 3, Didem Karacetin 4, Nazlı Mehmet Ali 5, Gursu Rıza Umar 6, Senem Karabulut 7
PMCID: PMC10040193  PMID: 36987423

Abstract

Background

Breast cancer (BC) is the primary cause of mortality due to cancer in females around the world. Fetuin-A is known to increase metastases over signals and peroxisomes related with growing. Receptor activator of nuclear factor-kB ligand (RANKL) takes part in cell adhesion, and RANKL inhibition is used in the management of cancer. We aimed to examine the relationship between serum fetuin-A, RANKL levels, other laboratory parameters and clinical findings in women diagnosed with early stage BC, in our population.

Methods

Women having early stage BC (n=117) met our study inclusion criteria as they had no any anti-cancer therapy before. Thirty-seven healthy women controls were also confirmed with breast examination and ultrasonography and/or mammography according to their ages. Serum samples were stored at -80°C and analysed via ELISA.

Results

Median age of the patients was 53 (range: 57-86) while it was 47 (range: 23-74) in the healthy group. Patients had lower high-density lipoprotein levels (p=0.002) and higher neutrophil counts (p=0.014). Fetuin-A and RANKL levels did not differ between the groups (p=0.116 and p=0.439, respectively) but RANKL leves were found to be lower in the favorable histological subtypes (p=0.04).

Conclusions

In this study, we found no correlation between serum fetuin-A levels and clinical findings in patients diagnosed with early stage BC. However, RANKL levels are found to be lower in subgroups with favorable histopathologic subtypes such as tubular, papillary and mucinous BC and there was statistically significant difference.

Keywords: breast cancer, fetuin-A, RANKL, serum

Introduction

Breast cancer (BC) is the second most frequently diagnosed malignancy just behind lung cancer and also the primary cause of mortality due to cancer in female around the world. Over 1.5 million women (25% of all women with cancer) are diagnosed with BC every year throughout the world [1]. Today, the total number of BC patients have increased in response to exposure to several risk factors such as abnormal levels of estrogen, smoking, alcohol and obesity [2]. Nevertheless, we know that early BC detection could reduce BC death rates significantly in the long-term [3].

Therefore, specific screening methods with the use of the correct biomarkers are important in the detection of early stage BC [4]. Specially, blood, saliva, and urine were considered as ideal origin in which to assign the presence of cancer biomarkers such as annexin, peroxiredoxin and calreticulin [5].

Fetuin-A, also called Alpha 2-Heremans Schmid Glycoprotein (AHSG), is a serum glycoprotein synthesized by the liver and secreted into the blood stream [6]. Its founded principal role is the inhibition of ectopic calcification, but mounting evidence suggests that it is a multifunctional protein capable of modulating a number of critical signaling pathways and it has roles in disease processes such as diabetes mellitus and kidney disease [7]. In particular, high fetuin-A concentrations are found to be associated with atherogenic lipid profile and metabolic syndrome, low fetuin-A levels are related to vascular calcifications and inflammation [8]. In addition, there are few suggesting increased fetuin-A level may be a new serum biomarker in early BC [9].

Receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL) appertain to tumour necrosis factor superfamily which is a group of proteins that act as bidirectional signalling molecules. RANKL with osteocyte origin induces bone destruction by stimulating osteoclasts, while RANKL released from osteoblasts functions in the reverse effect [10]. At the same time, available evidence suggests that the RANKL signaling system is associated with in almost all steps in BC development, from primary oncogenesis to the establishment of secondary tumors in the bone [10].

The potential role of tumor markers is to improve early cancer determination and they significantly provide an unmatched opportunity to understand the disease’s biology, improve diagnosis and enhance treatment. In the present study; we aimed to investigate the the serum levels of fetuin-A and RANKL and their relationship with clinical parameters in patients with early stage BC.

Materials and methods

Demographic features of patients

A total of 117 female patients with early stage BC between the ages of 27–86 years (median: 53) were included in the study. Our control group was 37 healthy women between the ages of 23–74 (median: 47) years. BC was diagnosed according to the ultrasonography and histopathologic findings of the patients. Healthy controls were also confirmed with breast examination and ultrasonography and/or mammography according to their ages. The patients were asked for their medical history (type 2 diabetes, hypertension, smoking and medications) and measured for their glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and other biochemical parameters. Exclusion criteria included trauma history, major surgical history, chronic kidney disease with a creatinine clearance under 15 mL/min, hepatitis (alcoholic, toxic hepatitis, chronic autoimmune), fatty liver, alcoholic and primer biliary cirrhosis, chronic inflammatory disease, acute infection, known lung or liver disease, known rheumatic heart valve disease, congenital heart disease including bicuspid aorta, dilated cardiomyopathy and known osteoporosis.

Serum preparation

Blood was drawn after 12 hours of fasting in the morning. Serum was obtained after at least 30 minutes of clotting by centrifugation at 2500xg for 15 minutes. Serum was stored at –80°C until assayed. All icteric or haemolytic blood samples were discarded. All parameters were analyzed in all samples together in a single batch at the termination of the experimental protocol (control and patient samples were analysed in the same batch).

Measurement of serum fetuin-A and RANKL levels

Serum fetuin-A and RANKL levels of patients with BC and of the control group were measured in the venous blood. A commercial kit (Assaypro, USA, cat no: EG 63501-1), based on a quantitative sandwich ELISA, was used and results were determined with ELX 800 UV version ELISA reader and calculated in grams per liter. Mean intra-assay and inter-assay coefficients of variation were less than 4.9% (n:10) and 6.7% (n:10).

Measurement of other biochemical parameters

Levels of serum glucose, urea, creatinine, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, AST, ALT, GGT, LDH, ALP, total protein, albumin, parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, CRP, complete blood count (CBC), CEA, CA 15.3 and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were measured in the patient and control groups using the same biochemistry laboratory in our hospital.

Statistical analysis

Statistical analyses (Mann–Whitney U-test, Student t test) were performed with SPSS 19 (Statistical Package for Social Sciences). The difference in various parameters were analyzed by the Chi-square test. Pearson correlation test was used for correlating fetuin-A, RANKL and the different biochemical parameters. Multivariate logistic regression model was performed to determine the effect of independent risk factors for BC. P-values < 0.05 were considered significant.

Results

Median age of the patients was 53 (range: 57–86) while it was 47 (range: 23–74) in the healthy group. Patients were 56% postmenopausal, 40% premenopausal and 4% perimenopausal. Twenty-four (20.5%) of the patients had cerbb2 3 positive or cerb2 2 positive and SISH/FISH positive disease. Grade 2 disease was found in 60 (52.6%) patients and 47 patients (41.2%) had grade 3 disease. Seventy-four (63.2%) patients had invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), 15 (12.8%) had invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), 6 (5.1%) had mixed (IDC+ILC) carcinoma, 1 had metaplastic cancer and 21 (17.9%) had other favorable (tubular, apocrine, papillary and mucinous) types. Twenty-nine patients (24.7%) had stage I, thirty (25.6%) had stage II and fifty-eight (49.5%) patients had stage III BC.

There was no statistically significant difference between ER status, PR status, cerbb2 status, grade, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, stage, menopausal status and serum parameters. Patients had lower high-density lipoprotein levels (p=0.002) and higher neutrophil counts (p=0.014) rather than the control group (Table 1 and Table 2). Table 3 Fetuin-A and RANKL levels did not differ between the patients and control groups (p=0.116 and p=0.439, respectively) (Table 4). There was no statistically significant difference in fetuin-A levels according to various clinical/laboratory parameters (Table 5). However, patients with favorable histopathologies such as tubular, apocrine, papillary and mucinous subtypes (n=24) had lower RANKL values and it was found to be significant (p=0.04) (Table 6).

Table 1. Laboratory values, cell adhesion markers and age of the patients’ and control group.

Age N Mean Std. Dev. Min Max p units
Control 37 47.65 11.106 23 74 .014
BC 117 53.21 12.026 27 86
Total 154 51.88 12.015 23 86
Fetuin-A (g/L) Control 37 .35137 .096804 .215 .674 .116 g/L
BC 117 .38076 .099044 .224 .743
Total 154 .37370 .099000 .215 .743
RANKL (pM) Control 37 382.895 326.0093 82.9 1763.7 .439 pM
BC 117 447.340 470.5775 61.1 2486.6
Total 154 431.856 440.0707 61.1 2486.6
Glucose (mmol/L) Control 37 5.8492 0.7293 4.2185 7.7154 .324 mmol/L
BC 117 6.2067 2.1565 3.8854 21.7584
Total 154 6.1207 1.9169 3.8854 21.7584
Urea (mmol/L) Control 37 23.08 9.8388 8.1585 49.1175 .247 mmol/L
BC 117 26.1372 14.9833 6.4935 83.4166
Total 154 25.4029 13.9537 6.4935 83.4166
Creatinine (mmol/L) Control 37 55.83445 11.2394 39.7808 84.8656 .279 mmol/L
BC 117 58.354 12.5857 34.4767 101.662
Total 154 57.744 12.287 34.4767 101.662
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Table 2. Laboratory values, cell adhesion markers and age of the patients’ and control group.

Total cholesterol<br>(mmol/L) Control 37 5.4354 0.9677 3.3364 8.1469 0.814 mmol/L
BC 117 5.3865 1.1391 3.1553 8.7418
Total 154 5.3984 1.0975 3.1553 8.7418
HDL-Chol (mmol/L) Control 37 1.475 0.341 0.7242 2.276 0.002 mmol/L
BC 117 1.2784 0.3279 0.6466 2.1208
Total 154 1.3255 0.3416 0.6466 2.276
LDL-Chol (mmol/L) Control 37 3.2435 0.7428 1.7587 5.0071 0.654 mmol/L
BC 117 3.3232 0.9931 0.6052 6.6727
Total 154 3.3041 0.9374 0.6052 6.6727
AST (U/L) Control 37 21.78 6.872 14 54 0.268 U/L
BC 117 20.58 5.339 11 43
Total 154 20.87 5.744 11 54
ALT (U/L) Control 37 21.24 15.673 9 87 0.269 U/L
BC 117 19.02 8.484 5 56
Total 154 19.55 10.643 5 87
GGT (U/L) Control 37 21.03 14.544 8 84 0.403 U/L
BC 117 23.53 16.180 6 104
Total 154 22.93 15.793 6 104
LDH (U/L) Control 37 178.59 33.815 80 263 0.773 U/L
BC 117 180.79 42.218 20 296
Total 154 180.27 40.265 20 296
ALP (U/L) Control 36 78.08 23.285 40 143 0.553 U/L
BC 116 80.79 24.051 40 205
Total 152 80.15 23.823 40 205
Total protein (g/L) Control 37 74.435 6.4162 68.0 107.0 0.059 g/L
BC 116 72.614 4.5792 60.7 81.6
Total 153 73.054 5.1213 60.7 107.0
Albumin (g/L) Control 37 44.089 2.2737 37.5 48.1 0.463 g/L
BC 117 43.708 2.8838 35.8 52.3
Total 154 43.799 2.7474 35.8 52.3
Calcium (mmol/L) Control 37 2.3851 0.0822 2.2456 2.5201 0.201 mmol/L
BC 117 2.3582 0.1191 1.8963 2.8195
Total 154 2.3646 0.1117 1.8963 2.8195
Phosphorus (mmol/L) Control 37 1.0448 0.1542 0.7129 1.3419 .994 mmol/L
BC 116 1.0445 0.1788 0.6161 1.5839
Total 153 1.0446 0.1726 0.6161 1.5839
Magnesium (mmol/L) Control 37 0.7791 0.0669 0.6213 0.9298 0.232 mmol/L
BC 116 0.7951 0.0718 0.5842 0.9545
Total 153 0.7912 0.0707 0.5842 0.9545
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Table 3. Laboratory values, cell adhesion markers and age of the patients’ and control group.

PTH (ng/L) Control 37 58.981 24.8303 22.8 121.9 0.571 ng/L
BC 117 62.193 31.3949 11.9 213.5
Total 154 61.421 29.9040 11.9 213.5
Sedimentation<br>(mm/h) Control 37 22.84 14.299 1 72 0.914 mm/h
BC 110 23.11 12.883 4 76
Total 147 23.04 13.204 1 76
CRP (nmol/L) Control 37 36.7514 36.1676 4.9524 148.9524 0.319 nmol/L
BC 117 47.3524 61.0316 2.0952 434.2857
Total 154 44.7924 56.1467 2.0952 434.2857
WBC (109/L) Control 37 6.7614 1.10867 4.43 9.45 0.086 109/L
BC 117 7.3162 1.84842 3.63 13.12
Total 154 7.1829 1.71353 3.63 13.12
Neutrophil<br>(109/L) Control 37 3.9443 1.00572 1.90 5.82 0.014 109/L
BC 117 4.6630 1.66258 2.00 10.53
Total 154 4.4903 1.55839 1.90 10.53
Lymphocyte<br>(109/L) Control 37 2.1519 .50326 1.25 3.41 0.328 109/L
BC 117 2.0429 .61292 1.05 4.41
Total 154 2.0691 .58873 1.05 4.41
PLT<br>(109/L) Control 37 264.32 49.311 160 356 0.895 109/L
BC 117 265.88 65.808 123 524
Total 154 265.51 62.097 123 524
MPV (Fl) Control 37 10.408 .8958 8.7 13.8 0.708 Fl
BC 115 10.481 1.0618 8.4 14.2
Total 152 10.463 1.0215 8.4 14.2
Ca 15.3<br>(U/mL) Control 5 15.940 5.6145 10.7 24.1 0.733 U/mL
BC 104 22.993 45.8327 3.0 392.6
Total 109 22.670 44.7968 3.0 392.6
CEA(μg/L) Control 4 3.117 4.6920 .3 10.1 0.854 mg/L
BC 103 3.864 8.0352 .3 56.4
Total 107 3.836 7.9228 .3 56.4
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Table 4. Serum fetuin-A and RANKL levels in the patients’ and the control group.

N Mean Standard deviation Minimum Maximum p
Fetuin-A<br>(g/L) Control 37<br>BC 117<br>Total 154 0.35137<br>0.38076<br>0.37370 0.096804<br>0.099044<br>0.99000 0.215<br>0.224<br>0.215 0.674<br>0.743<br>0.743 <br>0.116
RANKL<br>(pM) Control 37<br>BC 117<br>Total 154 382.895<br>447.340<br>431.856 326.0093<br>470.5775<br>440.0707 82.9<br>61.1<br>61.1 1763.7<br>2486.6<br>2486.6 <br>0.439
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Table 5. Comparisons of fetuin-A levels according to various clinical/laboratory parameters.

Significant p values (less than 0.05) are highlighted in bold.* Apocrine, papillary, mucinous, metaplastic, neuroendocrine, tubular. ** Invasive ductal carcinoma, invasive lobular carcinoma, mixed type.

Variables Fetuin Median (Range) n P
Ki-67
≤ 30 0.345 (0.235–0.522) 43<br>71 0.09
> 30 0.389 (0.224–0.743) 71
ER
Negative 0.398 (0.264–0.692) 25 0.38
Positive 0.375 (0.224–0.743) 92
PR
Negative 0.399 (0.247–0.692) 30 0.38
Positive 0.373 (0.224–0.743) 87
HER2
Negative 0.362 (0.224–0.743) 90 0.71
Positive 0.369 (0.249–0.692) 24
Classification
Luminal 0.358 (0.224–0.743) 92 0.39
Others 0.392 (0.264–0.692)<br>9225 25
Classification
Triple positive 0.345 (0.249–0.497) 13 0.40
Others 0.368 (0.224–0.743) 100
Classification
Triple negative 0.336 (0.267–0.591) 11 0.63
Others 0.362 (0.224–0.743) 106
Classification
HER2 enriched 0.369 (0.249–0.692) 24 0.71
Others 0.362 (0.224–0.743) 90
Histological subgroups
Favorable groups* 0.355 (0.242–0.526)<br>0.355 (0.242-0.526) 24 0.51
Unfavorable groups** 0.361 (0.224–0.743) 93
Stage
Early stage 0.360 (0.224–0.650) 60 0.55
Local advanced stage 0.370 (0.235–0.743) 54
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Table 6. Comparisons of RANKL levels according to various clinical/laboratory parameters.

Significant p values (less than 0.05) are highlighted in bold. * Apocrine, papillary, mucinous, metaplastic, neuroendocrine, tubular. ** Invasive ductal carcinoma, invasive lobular carcinoma, mixed type.

Variables RANKL Median (Range) n P
Ki-67
≤ 30 203.300 (61.100–1577.500) 43 0.16
> 30 273.300 (101.800–2486.600) 71
ER
Negative 490.888 (101.800–2486.600) 25 0.54
Positive 434.228 (61.100–1890.500) 92
PR
Negative 441.337 (101.800–2486.600) 30 0.66
Positive 448.059 (61.100–1890.500) 87
HER2
Negative 240.950 (61.100–1973.600) 90 0.61
Positive 276.600 (101.800–2486.600) 24
Classification
Luminal 250.250 (61.100–1890.500) 92 0.54
Others 294.500 (101.800–2486.600) 25
Classification
Triple positive 314.600 (121.700–956.700) 13100 0.22
Others 239.250 (61.100–2486.600)
Classification
Triple negative 372.900 (113.200–1973.600) 11 0.50
Others 250.250 (61.100–2486.600) 106
Classification
HER2 enriched 276.600 (101.800–2486.600) 24 0.61
Others 240.950 (61.100–1973.600) 90
Histological subgroups
Favorable groups* 184.500 (80.500–638.300) 24 0.04
Unfavorable groups** 269.100 (61.100-2486.600) 93
Stage
I and II 254.600 (61.100–1973.600) 60 0.62
III 261.450 (101.800–2486.600) 54
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Discussion

For BC, different serum markers were evaluated up to now and some of them are found to be prognostic, some are diagnostic and/or predictive [11]. Fetuin-A was originally discovered to be an inhibitor of vascular calcification. Furthermore it is demonstrated that it plays an important role in free fatty acid induced insulin resistance in the liver [12] [13]. Increased fe tuin-A had been also been linked to increased occurrence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and cardiovascular events, believed to be due to its pro inflammatory effects. Thus, in contrast it has some anti-inflammatory properties. It is a negative acute-phase reactant in sepsis, promotes wound healing, and is neuroprotective [14]. The potential role of fetuin-A in tumor progression stemmed from earlier studies that suggested that it was the cell attachment factor in serum [15]. In head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), there was an increased expression of a higher molecular weight fetuin-A [16]. There is ectopic synthesis of fetuin-A by divergent cancer cell lines [17]. Patients with high ectopic expression of fetuin-A in lung cancer and gastric cancer tend to have lower survival [18] [19]. Fetuin-A is an important marker in the tumor microenvironment, for cancer stem cells and for matrix metalloproteinases [20] [21].

Fetuin-A is found to be a serum biomarker for colorectal cancer patients [22]. It is found to be increased in malignant pleural effusion of lung cancer patients [23]. Furthermore, in a study done in Mexican BC population, the presence of serum autoantibodies against fetuin-A protein found to be useful as serum biomarkers for early-stage BC screening [9]. Fetuin-A seems to be a serum chemo-attractant protein that also promotes invasion of BC tumor cells [24].

In our study, we found no association of serum fetuin-A levels for BC patients with other laboratory parameters and with control subjects. This may be a result of exploring only early staged patients. In the Mexican BC population [9], there were 36 patients (30 with ductal and 6 lobular carcinoma) but they used an immune proteomic approach, combining two-dimensional (2D) electrophoresis, Western blot, and matrix-associated laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) methods. We used one method which was the ELISA method for the detection of fetuin-A levels. We performed this study in 117 patients with invasive ductal, lobular, tubular, papillary and mucinous cancers. However, in our study, there was a trend to be lower for fetuin-A levels for more favorable histologic subtypes. It is very well known that BC has different histologic subtypes as well as its diffrenet molecular characteristics. In the Mexican study [9], there is no data about the tumors’ molecular characteristics such as ER, PR and cerbb2 status. In our study; there are older patients than the other study. Taken together all these discrepancies, in our study which was done in Turkish BC patients, fetuin-A levels did not differ.

RANKL/RANK system is seen as a downstream mediator of progesterone-driven mammary epithelial cells proliferation, BC initiation and progression. Expression of RANKL, RANK has been detected in BC cell lines and in human primary BCs. To date, dysregulation of RANKL/RANK at the skeletal level has been widely documented in the context of metastatic bone disease [25]. The interference with the RANK/RANKL system could therefore serve as a potential target for prevention and treatment of BC [26] [27]. For metastatic BC patients, specifically for patients with bone metastasis, RANKL levels were found to be diagnostic and somewhat predictive for therapy [26]. In our study; for early staged BC patients, RANKL levels were found to be lower in the favorable histological subtypes of BC. This is a new topic for early stage BC patients.

Conclusion

We found a correlation between serum RANKL levels and favorable histological subtypes of BC.However, there was no significance between fetuin-A levels and other clinical/laboratory parameters. Further and detailed studies can enlighten the role of these cell adhesion markers better for BC patients.

Dodatak

Conflict of interest statement

All the authors declare that they have no conflict of interest in this work.

Footnotes

Conflict of Interest: The authors stated that they have no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this article.

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