Glucocorticoids and breast cancer risk

Excerpt

Glucocorticoids are essential endogenous steroid hormones secreted in response to stress, and treatment with synthetic forms is widespread for numerous inflammatory conditions including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and arthritis [1]. Emerging evidence suggests that glucocorticoids can exert both anti- and pro-inflammatory effects, modulated through suppressing or augmenting immune response [1]. Given these divergent biologic properties, glucocorticoids could theoretically reduce breast cancer risk via anti-inflammatory effects or could increase breast cancer risk and progression by inducing insulin resistance and promoting immunosuppression [2]. Yet, despite biological plausibility, epidemiologic studies of glucocorticoid use and breast cancer are limited. …