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In a new study, scientists from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and partners applied untargeted metabolomics to identify serum metabolites associated with breast cancer status in black urban women residing in Soweto, South Africa. The study was published in the International Journal of Cancer.
The incidence of breast cancer has been steadily increasing in South Africa over the past decades, but this rise can only be partially attributed to changes in known modifiable risk factors. Metabolomics may help to elucidate novel biological pathways and identify potential biomarkers associated with breast cancer. Most previous studies have investigated the association between metabolites and breast cancer risk in white populations.
The new study investigated data from 396 breast cancer cases and 396 population-based controls matched on age and demographic settings enrolled in the South African Breast Cancer study. Nearly 6000 molecular features were measured using an untargeted ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) method developed at IARC. The study team found that high serum levels of cortisol, kynurenine, and octenoylcarnitine are associated with increased risk of breast cancer.
Overall, although prospective studies are needed, these findings highlight the role of metabolic pathways linked to cortisol, kynurenine, and carnitine metabolism in the occurrence of breast cancer. If these findings are replicated and confirmed in a prospective study, they will enhance the understanding of the biological pathways associated with breast cancer risk. This could help identify clinical intervention targets and potentially identify individuals at risk before breast cancer occurs.
Mahamat-Saleh Y, Merdas M, Viallon V, Robinot N, Biessy C, Jacobs I, et al.
Association of serum metabolites and breast cancer risk: a population-based case–control study in black urban South African women
Int J Cancer. Published online 17 June 2025;
https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.35503
