Suggestive Evidence of Causal Relationship Between Platelet Indices and Breast Cancer

Strategic Insights -

Research conducted at the Breast Center of the Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China, has revealed a potential link between platelet indices and an increased risk of breast cancer, specifically in estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) and estrogen receptor-negative (ER-) subtypes. The study, published in the International Journal of Women's Health, used a Mendelian randomization analysis to investigate the relationship between genetic variation in platelet indices and the risk of breast cancer. The findings suggest a causal relationship between platelet count (PCT), mean platelet volume (MPV), and platelet distribution width (PDW) and the risk of breast cancer, particularly in the ER+ subtype.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that PCT was significantly associated with an increased risk of overall breast cancer (OR, 1.0693 [95% CI, 1.0281- 1.1121]; P = 0.0008) and its ER+ subtype (OR, 1.0691 [95% CI, 1.0233- 1.1169]; P = 0.0028).
  • The suggestive evidence of a causal relationship between PLT and the increased risk of overall breast cancer disappeared after removing outliers determined by MR-PRESSO test.
  • MPV was suggestively associated with an increased risk of overall breast cancer (P = 0.0291).
  • PDW was suggestively associated with a lower risk of overall breast cancer (OR, 0.9597 [95% CI, 0.9236- 0.9971]; P = 0.035) and ER+ (OR, 0.9528 [95% CI, 0.9118- 0.9957]; P = 0.0315), ER- (OR, 0.9199 [95% CI, 0.8644- 0.979]; P = 0.0085) subtypes.
  • The findings were replicated in an independent dataset but did not generalize to the East Asian population.
  • The study suggests that platelet indices, specifically PCT, MPV, and PDW, may be potential biomarkers for breast cancer risk.
  • The study was conducted by Yuhao Zhu, Jundong Wu, and other researchers at the Breast Center of the Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College.

Statistics:

  • The OR for the association between PCT and the increased risk of overall breast cancer was 1.0693 (95% CI, 1.0281- 1.1121; P = 0.0008).
  • The OR for the association between MPV and the increased risk of overall breast cancer was 1.0351 (95% CI, 1.0003- 1.0711; P = 0.0483).
  • The OR for the association between PDW and the lower risk of overall breast cancer was 0.9597 (95% CI, 0.9236- 0.9971; P = 0.035).
  • The study included 745 breast cancer cases and 1333 controls.
  • The study was published in the International Journal of Women's Health, Volume 17(Issue 1):3455-3467.

Sources:

  • Causal Analysis of Platelet Indices and Breast Cancer, Including Estrogen Receptor-Specific Subtypes: A Mendelian Randomization Study. International Journal of Women's Health, 2025,Volume 17(Issue 1):3455-3467.
  • NewsRx. New Breast Cancer Study Findings Recently Were Published by Researchers at Department of Breast Surgery (Causal Analysis of Platelet Indices and Breast Cancer, Including Estrogen Receptor-Specific Subtypes: A Mendelian Randomization Study). OBGYN & Reproduction Week. October 20, 2025; p 453.