Correlation between serum lipid levels and endocrine resistance in patients with ER-positive breast cancer

Lipid metabolism may be involved in the development of endocrine drug resistance in ER-positive (ER+) breast cancer (BC). This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum lipid levels, risk stratification of dyslipidemia, and endocrine resistance. We collected the data from 166 ER + breast cancer patients who received endocrine therapy (ET). 73 of 166 patients (44.0%)developed endocrine resistance. Univariate and multivariate COX regression were conducted to explore the potential factors affecting endocrine resistance in BC. The clinical T stage, mean serum lipid levels in ET progression-free-survival (total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein A, and triglycerides/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) were correlated with endocrine resistance (R = 0.214, P = .006; R = 0.268, P < .001; R = 0.182, P = .019;R = 0.197, P = .011; R = 0.211, P = .006; R = 0.159, P < .041). Clinical stage, triglycerides (TG) in endocrine therapy progression-free-survival (ePFS) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in ePFS were independent predictors of endocrine resistance (P < .05; OR = 1.406, CI 1.108–1.783, P < .05; OR = 1.309, CI 1.026–1.669, P < .05, respectively). Moreover, in clinical stage III, the ePFS was worse in patients with in the high-risk and extremely high-risk group the median ePFS time was 8.0 months (95% CI: 1.140–14.860, P < .05). Clinical stage, TG in ePFS and LDL-C in ePFS may act as a new predictive biomarker for endocrine resistance in BC. The lipid levels of BC patients should be closely monitored throughout the treatment process, and patients with dyslipidemia should receive treatment immediately.