The Role of C1q Tumor Necrosis Factor-related Protein 6 (CTRP6) in Breast Cancer

Globally, breast cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in women and is the second leading cause of cancer death , representing 15% of worldwide deaths per year. In Egypt, it accounts for 32 % of cancer in women with a high mortality rate.

The etiology of breast cancer is multifactorial in which multiple epigenetic and genetic variations affect its incidence and prognosis . Although diagnostic methods and therapeutic strategies for breast cancer have been improved in past decades, long-term survival of breast cancer patients still remains poor due to high proliferation, metastasis and post-surgical recurrence rate.

Therefore, it is critical to develop more effective screening methods that can detect BC at an early stage and novel therapeutic targets for better treatment. This may be achieved by understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the initiation and progression of this malignancy.

Complement C1q tumor necrosis factor-related protein (CTRPs) are a protein family of adiponectin paralogs which contains fifteen members, CTRP1- CTRP15. This super family are involved in several biological processes, including metabolism, immunity, inflammation, apoptosis and cell differentiation (15, 16). Accumulating evidence correlates CTRP family members with carcinogenesis and signaling pathways associated with cancer development, progression and metastasis.

C1q tumor necrosis factor-related protein 6 (CTRP6) or (C1qTNF6) is a member of CTRPs family. It contains four domains including signal peptide, short N-terminal variable region, collagen domain and C-terminal C1q domain. It is expressed mainly in placenta, heart, uterus and adipose tissue.