Abstract
Purpose: Digit ratio (2D:4D) has been considered as a proxy biomarker for prenatal hormonal exposure and may represent an individual’s predisposition to breast cancer. The purpose of the present study is to investigate whether there is a link between digit ratio and breast cancer in a Brazilian population. Methods: Digital measurements of the lengths of the index and ring fingers of both hands were obtained from women with breast cancer (n = 100) and age-matched controls (n = 100) using a digital Vernier calliper. Mean digit ratios of right hands, left hands, and right minus left hand 2D:4D (DR-L) were compared between both groups. Data were analysed by the Student's t -test for unpaired samples, Mann-Whitney test, and Spearman`s correlation with a significance level of 5%. Results: The patients with breast cancer presented significantly higher right and left 2D:4D (both p < 0.001) and higher DR-L ( p = 0.032) than controls. Among breast cancer cases, there was a significantly negative correlation between left 2D:4D and age diagnosed with breast cancer ( p = 0.018). Conclusion: Digit ratio offers a valid retrospective biomarker of action of prenatal hormones and might be associated with breast cancer risk and age at onset of breast cancer. It suggests that higher exposure or sensitivity to prenatal oestrogen might be associated with a higher risk of breast cancer and with earlier onset of the disease.
Highlights
A new focus of adult cancer research is on the in utero and early life periods
Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for 2D:4D ratio and DR-L were lower than those for raw digit measurements (0.94 for right 2D:4D, 0.96 for left 2D:4D and 0.87 for DR-L), but still suggest that the observed variability in digit ratio is due to individual differences rather than measurement error
There is some evidence that high concentrations of endogenous oestrogen in utero may increase the risk for subsequent breast cancer[2] and that high sensitivity to prenatal oestrogen exposure was correlated with high 2D:4D.6
Summary
A new focus of adult cancer research is on the in utero and early life periods. Breast cancer has concentrated the most researches about factors associated with intrauterine period and early life.[1] Intrauterine environmental exposure to endogenous or exogenous hormones, notably oestrogens, may influence the subsequent development of breast cancer in offspring[2] by altering the hormonal environment of the developing foetal mammary glands.[3] Oestrogen acts as a key driver for breast cancer because it can increase the frequency of mitotic activity, thereby stimulating cell division and increasing the potential of cells to accumulate mutations.[4] Mammary gland cells in utero are not terminally differentiated. It was suggested that 2D:4D may be predictive of susceptibility to different types of cancers,[10] like
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