Abnormal anti-Müllerian hormone level may be a trigger for breast cancer in young women: A case-control study

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is a known sensitive biomarker for fertility and ovarian reserve. The results of in vivo and human studies showed inconsistency with respect to the relation between AMH and breast cancer.

To compare the AMH level of young Iranian women with early breast cancer who have not received any treatment compared to that of healthy women.

In this case-control study, 58 breast cancer cases were recruited from the breast oncology clinic of two university hospitals. They were diagnosed with an in situ or invasive breast cancer before any anticancer treatment between August 2018 and April 2019. Healthy controls (n = 58) were selected from women referred to a gynecologic outpatient clinic without any symptoms of cancer or infertility. AMH was measured by the AMH enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits in one laboratory. 

Final analysis showed that the AMH means of case and control were not statistically significant (3.36 ± 2.95 vs 3.13 ± 1.79). However, the lower and higher AMH level categories are more prevalent in breast cancer compared to the control. Pearson’s correlation test showed that the AMH level was negatively correlated with age (r = -0.44, p< 0.001). The results of logistic regression analysis considering confounding factors showed the positive association between breast cancer and lower (Odds Ratio [OR] = 5.98, p = 0.02) and higher quartile of AMH level (OR = 4.95, p = 0.01).

Our results suggest that abnormal AMH level is more frequent in young breast cancer patients. Further investigation considering AMH determinants is required.