zeaxanthin and Breast-Neoplasms

Measurement errors in the dietary assessment of fruit and vegetable intake may attenuate associations with breast cancer risk and might explain the weak associations observed in epidemiologic studies. Carotenoid concentrations in blood are biomarkers of fruit and vegetable intake; however, no systematic assessment has compared dietary intake with blood concentrations of carotenoids and breast cancer risk.. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies of dietary intake and blood concentrations of carotenoids and breast cancer risk.. We searched PubMed and several other databases for relevant studies up to 31 August 2011. Random-effects models were used to estimate summary estimates.. Of the 6 dietary carotenoids assessed, only intake of β-carotene was significantly associated with a reduced breast cancer risk (summary RR: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.91, 0.99; I(2): 0%) per 5000 μg/d (n = 10). In contrast, the summary RR for blood concentrations of carotenoids was 0.78 (95% CI: 0.61, 0.99; I(2): 53%) per 100 μg total carotenoids/dL (n = 7), 0.74 (95% CI: 0.57, 0.97; I(2): 43%) per 50 μg β-carotene/dL (n = 13), 0.82 (95% CI: 0.73, 0.92, I(2): 3%) per 10 μg α-carotene/dL (n = 12), and 0.68 (95% CI: 0.52, 0.89; I(2): 0%) per 25 μg lutein/dL (n = 6).. Blood concentrations of carotenoids are more strongly associated with reduced breast cancer risk than are carotenoids assessed by dietary questionnaires. Our results suggest that the use of certain biomarkers may clarify inconsistent and weak results between dietary intake and breast cancer risk.

Topics: beta Carotene; Biomarkers; Breast Neoplasms; Carotenoids; Cryptoxanthins; Diet; Dietary Supplements; Female; Fruit; Humans; Lutein; Lycopene; Risk Factors; Vegetables; Xanthophylls; Zeaxanthins

Carotenoids, micronutrients in fruits and vegetables, may reduce breast cancer risk. Most, but not all, past studies of circulating carotenoids and breast cancer have found an inverse association with at least one carotenoid, although the specific carotenoid has varied across studies.. We conducted a pooled analysis of eight cohort studies comprising more than 80% of the world's published prospective data on plasma or serum carotenoids and breast cancer, including 3055 case subjects and 3956 matched control subjects. To account for laboratory differences and examine population differences across studies, we recalibrated participant carotenoid levels to a common standard by reassaying 20 plasma or serum samples from each cohort together at the same laboratory. Using conditional logistic regression, adjusting for several breast cancer risk factors, we calculated relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using quintiles defined among the control subjects from all studies. All P values are two-sided.. Statistically significant inverse associations with breast cancer were observed for α-carotene (top vs bottom quintile RR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.71 to 1.05, P(trend) = .04), β-carotene (RR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.70 to 0.98, P(trend) = .02), lutein+zeaxanthin (RR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.70 to 1.01, P(trend) = .05), lycopene (RR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.62 to 0.99, P(trend) = .02), and total carotenoids (RR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.68 to 0.96, P(trend) = .01). β-Cryptoxanthin was not statistically significantly associated with risk. Tests for heterogeneity across studies were not statistically significant. For several carotenoids, associations appeared stronger for estrogen receptor negative (ER(-)) than for ER(+) tumors (eg, β-carotene: ER(-): top vs bottom quintile RR = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.36 to 0.77, P(trend) = .001; ER(+): RR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.66 to 1.04, P(trend) = .06; P(heterogeneity) = .01).. This comprehensive prospective analysis suggests women with higher circulating levels of α-carotene, β-carotene, lutein+zeaxanthin, lycopene, and total carotenoids may be at reduced risk of breast cancer.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Anticarcinogenic Agents; beta Carotene; Breast Neoplasms; Carotenoids; Case-Control Studies; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cooperative Behavior; Female; Fruit; Humans; Logistic Models; Lutein; Lycopene; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Odds Ratio; Prospective Studies; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Vegetables; Xanthophylls; Zeaxanthins

The protective effect of dietary carotenoid intake on the risk of breast cancer is inconclusive. Moreover, data on dietary carotenoids in relation to breast cancer in non-Western populations are scarce. The aim of the present study was to examine the association between dietary carotenoid intake and the risk of breast cancer among Chinese women. A total of 561 cases and 561 controls who were frequency matched by age (5-year interval) and residence were recruited in the present case-control study. Dietary intake information was collected by a face-to-face interview using a validated FFQ. The OR and 95 % CI were assessed by multivariate logistic regression after adjusting for various potential confounders. An inverse association was observed between the consumption of α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin and lutein/zeaxanthin and the risk of breast cancer. The multivariate-adjusted OR for the highest quartile of intake compared with the lowest quartile of intake were 0·61 (95 % CI 0·43, 0·88) for α-carotene, 0·54 (95 % CI 0·38, 0·78) for β-carotene, 0·38 (95 % CI 0·26, 0·52) for β-cryptoxanthin and 0·49 (95 % CI 0·34, 0·71) for lutein/zeaxanthin. Lycopene intake was not found to be associated with the risk of breast cancer, with the adjusted OR of 0·89 (95 % CI 0·61, 1·30). These inverse associations were more evident among pre-menopausal women and women who were exposed to second-hand smoke. The protective effect of specific carotenoid intake was observed for all subtypes of hormone receptor status of breast cancer. The present study indicated that a greater intake of specific carotenoids was associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer among Chinese women residing in Guangdong.

Topics: Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Anticarcinogenic Agents; beta Carotene; Breast Neoplasms; Carotenoids; Case-Control Studies; China; Cryptoxanthins; Diet; Female; Hospitals, General; Hospitals, Teaching; Humans; Lutein; Middle Aged; Risk; Tobacco Smoke Pollution; Xanthophylls; Zeaxanthins

The glaucophyte Cyanophora paradoxa (Cp) was chemically investigated to identify pigments efficiently inhibiting malignant melanoma, mammary carcinoma and lung adenocarcinoma cells growth. Cp water and ethanol extracts significantly inhibited the growth of the three cancer cell lines in vitro, at 100 µg · mL(-1). Flash chromatography of the Cp ethanol extract, devoid of c-phycocyanin and allophycocyanin, enabled the collection of eight fractions, four of which strongly inhibited cancer cells growth at 100 µg · mL(-1). Particularly, two fractions inhibited more than 90% of the melanoma cells growth, one inducing apoptosis in the three cancer cells lines. The detailed analysis of Cp pigment composition resulted in the discrimination of 17 molecules, ten of which were unequivocally identified by high resolution mass spectrometry. Pheophorbide a, β-cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin were the three main pigments or derivatives responsible for the strong cytotoxicity of Cp fractions in cancer cells. These data point to Cyanophora paradoxa as a new microalgal source to purify potent anticancer pigments, and demonstrate for the first time the strong antiproliferative activity of zeaxanthin and β-cryptoxanthin in melanoma cells.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Breast Neoplasms; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Cryptoxanthins; Cyanophora; Female; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; MCF-7 Cells; Melanoma; Melanoma, Cutaneous Malignant; Pigments, Biological; Skin Neoplasms; Xanthophylls; Zeaxanthins

Epidemiologic studies examining associations between carotenoid intakes and risk of breast cancer by estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) status are limited.. We investigated these associations in a pooled analysis of 18 cohort studies.. Of 1,028,438 participants followed for a maximum follow-up of 26 y across studies, 33,380 incident invasive breast cancers were identified. Study-specific RRs and 95% CIs were estimated by using Cox proportional hazards regression and then pooled by using a random-effects model.. α-Carotene, β-carotene, and lutein/zeaxanthin intakes were inversely associated with the risk of ER-negative (ER-) breast cancer (pooled multivariable RRs of the comparison between the highest and lowest quintiles): α-carotene (0.87; 95% CI: 0.78, 0.97), β-carotene (0.84; 95% CI: 0.77, 0.93), and lutein/zeaxanthin (0.87; 95% CI: 0.79, 0.95). These variables were not inversely associated with the risk of ER-positive (ER+) breast cancer (pooled multivariable RRs for the same comparison): α-carotene (1.04; 95% CI: 0.99, 1.09), β-carotene (1.04; 95% CI: 0.98, 1.10), and lutein/zeaxanthin (1.00; 95% CI: 0.93, 1.07). Although the pooled RRs for quintile 5 for β-cryptoxanthin were not significant, inverse trends were observed for ER- and ER+ breast cancer (P-trend ≤ 0.05). Nonsignificant associations were observed for lycopene intake. The associations were largely not appreciably modified by several breast cancer risk factors. Nonsignificant associations were observed for PR-positive and PR-negative breast cancer.. Intakes of α-carotene, β-carotene, and lutein/zeaxanthin were inversely associated with risk of ER-, but not ER+, breast cancer. However, the results need to be interpreted with caution because it is unclear whether the observed association is real or due to other constituents in the same food sources.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; beta Carotene; Breast Neoplasms; Carotenoids; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Lutein; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Prospective Studies; Receptors, Estrogen; Receptors, Progesterone; Risk Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Xanthophylls; Young Adult; Zeaxanthins

Various retinoic acid (RA) isomers (all-trans, 13-cis, 11-cis, and 9-cis) as well as retinol, carotenoids, and tocopherol concentrations were determined in both serum and breast adipose tissue of 22 benign breast disease patients and 52 breast cancer patients categorized into 4 stages by malignancy. Serum RA isomers were analyzed by a newly developed sensitive method combining a high-performance liquid chromatography and a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and retinol, carotenoid, and tocopherol concentrations using a high-performance liquid chromatography system. The breast cancer patients showed significantly lower serum retinol, whereas significantly higher breast adipose tissue retinol concentration than those of benign breast disease patients. Although breast cancer patients showed significantly higher serum all-trans and 13-cis RA concentrations, 11-cis RA in breast adipose tissue was significantly lower in the breast cancer patients than those of benign breast disease patients and it was associated with the stage of malignancy. The current study indicates that the retinol and RA isomers in the target tissue of breast tumor patients are not reflecting their concentrations in circulation. The mechanisms of tissue specific uptake of RA isomers and their functions warrant further studies.

Topics: Adipose Tissue; Adult; Antioxidants; Breast; Breast Neoplasms; Carotenoids; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cryptoxanthins; Female; Fibrocystic Breast Disease; Humans; Isomerism; Lutein; Lycopene; Middle Aged; Retinoids; Tocopherols; Vitamin A; Xanthophylls; Zeaxanthins

Many studies of fruit and vegetable consumption showed inverse associations with breast cancer risk, suggesting the potential importance of carotenoids (and other phytochemicals) contained in these foods. To date, however, only one prospective cohort study has examined dietary carotenoids other than beta-carotene in relation to breast cancer risk.. Our aim was to examine the relations between dietary intakes of beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, and lutein + zeaxanthin and breast cancer risk in a large cohort study of Canadian women.. A case-cohort analysis was undertaken in a cohort of 56 837 women who were enrolled in the Canadian National Breast Screening Study and who completed a self-administered dietary questionnaire. During follow-up to the end of 1993 a total of 1589 women were diagnosed with biopsy-confirmed incident breast cancer. For comparison, a subcohort of 5681 women was randomly selected. After exclusions for various reasons, the analyses were based on 1452 cases and 5239 noncases.. We found no clear association between intakes of any of the studied carotenoids and breast cancer risk in the study population as a whole or in subgroups defined by smoking status; relative body weight (assessed by body mass index); intakes of total fat, energy, alcohol, or folic acid; family history of breast cancer; or menopausal status.. Our data do not support any association between dietary intakes of the studied carotenoids and breast cancer risk. However, prospective cohort studies of carotenoids in relation to breast cancer are scarce and further studies are warranted.

Topics: beta Carotene; Breast Neoplasms; Canada; Carotenoids; Cohort Studies; Cryptoxanthins; Diet; Female; Humans; Lutein; Lycopene; Middle Aged; Risk Factors; Xanthophylls; Zeaxanthins

To investigate the effects of various carotenoids on the proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis and expression of bcl-2 gene in breast cancer cell MCF-7.. Time and dose effects of individual carotenoids were detected using the MTT assay. The effects of individual carotenoids on cell cycle and the apoptosis were observed by flow cytometry. The expression of bcl-2 mRNA gene was detected using the RT-PCR method.. All 4 carotenoids tested inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 cell line, but with different potencies. beta-carotene and lycopene were the most active inhibitors (inhibition rate 88.2% and 87.8%, respectively) followed by zeaxanthin and astaxanthin. All 4 carotenoids did not induce cell apoptosis. Cell cycle progression was blocked at G(2)/M phase with 60 micromol/L lycopene and at G(0)/G(1) phase with 60 micromol/L zeaxanthin dipalmitate. Carotenoids down regulated bcl-2 gene expression.. Carotenoids could inhibit the proliferation of human beast cancer MCF-7 cell line in vitro and the action of carotenoids may be worked through different pathways.

Topics: beta Carotene; Breast Neoplasms; Canthaxanthin; Carotenoids; Cell Cycle; Cell Division; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Lycopene; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Xanthophylls; Zeaxanthins

Two-hundred and six breast cancer cases were histologically confirmed breast cancer diagnoses at the Cancer Institute in Chennai (Madras), India. One-hundred and fifty hospital controls were patients who had cancer at any site other than breast and gynecological organs, and 61 healthy controls were persons accompanying patients in the Cancer Institute. Serum levels of carotenoids such as beta-carotene, lycopene, cryptoxanthin, and zeaxanthin & lutein were determined by HPLC. Serum levels of total carotenes and total carotenoids including beta-carotene, which reflects food intake of colored vegetables and fruits and has a protective role for certain sites of cancer, were significantly lower among breast cancer cases and hospital controls compared to healthy controls, especially in post-menopausal women. Serum carotenoid levels appeared to change with menopausal status. Serum beta-carotene levels tended to be lower among breast cancer cases than among hospital controls in premenopausal women. Serum xanthophyll levels were significantly lower among breast cancer cases than among healthy controls in post-menopausal women, but not in premenopausal women. Serum levels of retinol and alpha-tocopherol among breast cancer cases were not significantly different from those in post-menopausal healthy controls, but were higher than those in hospital controls. Serum estrone levels were significantly higher among breast cancer cases than among healthy controls, but serum levels of estradiol and estriol were not. In conclusion, Indian women with cancer of breast or of other sites might have low intake of green-yellow vegetables rich in fiber and carotenoids such as beta-carotene and zeaxanthin & lutein.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anticarcinogenic Agents; Antioxidants; beta Carotene; Breast Neoplasms; Carotenoids; Case-Control Studies; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cryptoxanthins; Estrone; Feeding Behavior; Female; Fruit; Humans; India; Lutein; Lycopene; Menopause; Middle Aged; Vegetables; Vitamin A; Vitamin E; Xanthophylls; Zeaxanthins

To examine whether dietary fiber modifies breast cancer risk, a case-control study involving 351 newly diagnosed patients with breast cancer and 356 hospitalized controls was conducted in Uruguay. Dietary patterns were assessed in detail by use of a food frequency questionnaire on 64 items, which allowed the calculation of total energy intake. Nutrient residuals were calculated through regression analysis. After adjustment for potential confounders (which included age, residence, family history of breast cancer, prior history of benign breast disease, parity, total energy, red meat, lutein/zeaxanthin and quercetin intake, and menopausal status), dietary fiber and total nonstarch polysaccharides were associated with a strong reduction in risk of breast cancer (odds ratio for uppermost quartile of total dietary fiber = 0.51, 95% confidence limit = 0.31-0.82). Also the dose-response pattern was highly significant (p < 0.001). The inverse association was observed in pre- and post-menopausal women and was similar for soluble and insoluble fiber. Furthermore, dietary fiber displayed a strong joint effect with fat, quercetin, and lutein/zeaxanthin.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; beta Carotene; Breast Neoplasms; Case-Control Studies; Dietary Fats; Dietary Fiber; Female; Fruit; Humans; Lutein; Middle Aged; Quercetin; Risk Factors; Uruguay; Vegetables; Xanthophylls; Zeaxanthins