Social Isolation Speeds Breast Tumor Growth
Suzanne D. Conzen, M.D., Thomas Krausz, M.D., and Martha K. McClintock, Ph.D.
The University of Chicago
NIEHS Grant P50ES012382
A socially isolated and stressful environment may speed up the growth of breast tumors according to NIEHS-supported researchers at the University of Chicago. The effects are believed to be caused by changes in gene expression in mammary glands.
Previous human epidemiologic studies have shown a link between cancer and stress. The current study was conducted in a strain of laboratory mice genetically susceptible to breast cancer. Mice are generally very social animals and social isolation is recognized as a severe stressor for them. Mice were randomly assigned to be isolated at a very early age. The isolated mice developed larger and more breast cancers than the group-housed mice.
Gene expression changes in mammary tissue were also measured in the mice. Genes involved in metabolism were turned on and off in the isolated mice in a very reproducible manner. Certain metabolic pathways and changes are known to contribute to the increased growth of breast cancer. The isolated mice also had much higher stress hormone levels than their group-housed counterparts.
These findings are preliminary, but suggest that reducing stress and increasing social activity may be important factors in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer in women.
Citation: Williams JB, Pang D, Delgado B, Kocherginsky M, Tretiakova M, Krausz T, Pan D, He J, McClintock MK, Conzen SD. A model of gene-environment interaction reveals altered mammary gland gene expression and increased tumor growth following social isolation. Cancer Prev Res (Phila Pa). 2009 Oct;2(10):850-61.
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