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Breast Cancer Research
Published in: Breast Cancer Research 3/2007

Open Access 01-06-2007 | Research article

Correlation of umbilical cord blood hormones and growth factors with stem cell potential: implications for the prenatal origin of breast cancer hypothesis

Authors: Todd M Savarese, William C Strohsnitter, Hoi Pang Low, Qin Liu, Inkyung Baik, William Okulicz, David P Chelmow, Pagona Lagiou, Peter J Quesenberry, Kenneth L Noller, Chung-Cheng Hsieh

Published in: Breast Cancer Research | Issue 3/2007

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Abstract

Introduction

Prenatal levels of mitogens may influence the lifetime breast cancer risk by driving stem cell proliferation and increasing the number of target cells, and thereby increasing the chance of mutation events that initiate oncogenesis. We examined in umbilical cord blood the correlation of potential breast epithelial mitogens, including hormones and growth factors, with hematopoietic stem cell concentrations serving as surrogates of overall stem cell potential.

Methods

We analyzed cord blood samples from 289 deliveries. Levels of hormones and growth factors were correlated with concentrations of stem cell and progenitor populations (CD34+ cells, CD34+CD38- cells, CD34+c-kit+ cells, and granulocyte–macrophage colony-forming units). Changes in stem cell concentration associated with each standard deviation change in mitogens and the associated 95% confidence intervals were calculated from multiple regression analysis.

Results

Cord blood plasma levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were strongly correlated with all the hematopoietic stem and progenitor concentrations examined (one standard-deviation increase in IGF-1 being associated with a 15–19% increase in stem/progenitor concentrations, all P < 0.02). Estriol and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 levels were positively and significantly correlated with some of these cell populations. Sex hormone-binding globulin levels were negatively correlated with these stem/progenitor pools. These relationships were stronger in Caucasians and Hispanics and were weaker or not present in Asian-Americans and African-Americans.

Conclusion

Our data support the concept that in utero mitogens may drive the expansion of stem cell populations. The correlations with IGF-1 and estrogen are noteworthy, as both are crucial for mammary gland development.
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Metadata
Title
Correlation of umbilical cord blood hormones and growth factors with stem cell potential: implications for the prenatal origin of breast cancer hypothesis
Authors
Todd M Savarese
William C Strohsnitter
Hoi Pang Low
Qin Liu
Inkyung Baik
William Okulicz
David P Chelmow
Pagona Lagiou
Peter J Quesenberry
Kenneth L Noller
Chung-Cheng Hsieh
Publication date
01-06-2007
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Breast Cancer Research / Issue 3/2007
Electronic ISSN: 1465-542X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/bcr1674

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