Cysteine levels associated with breast cancer

November 10, 2003

LONDON

By Health Newswire reporters

Women with high blood levels of cysteine appear to have a reduced risk of

developing breast cancer, according to US researchers. Glutathione, a

powerful antioxidant and detoxifying agent, which is used to cleanse the

body of harmful toxins, is derived from cysteine. N-acetylcysteine, a

synthetic precursor of cysteine, is used as a mucolytic agent and as an

antidote against paracetamol-induced liver damage.

In a prospective case-control study, led by Dr Shumin Zhang, of Brigham and

Women's Hospital, the researchers investigated cysteine's role in the

development of breast cancer among women taking part in the Nurses' Health

Study.

The research team used regression analysis, after adjusting for other breast

cancer risk factors, to estimate the relative risks for developing breast

cancer using levels of plasma total cysteine. Subjects were just over 700

women with incident breast cancer and the same number of matched controls.

The study showed that women with the highest levels of plasma cysteine had a

56 per cent reduced risk of developing breast cancer compared with women who

had the lowest cysteine levels.

These findings were not significantly changed by any other major risk

factors for breast cancer, although a stronger association was observed in

leaner women.

" The findings suggest that higher levels of total cysteine may predict a

reduced risk for breast cancer " , says Dr Zhang. He adds that, " Based on

these results, we are hopeful that cysteine or its precursors may have

potential chemopreventive benefits against breast cancer. "

Reference: 94th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer

Research

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