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World J Psychiatr. Nov 19, 2021; 11(11): 1065-1074
Published online Nov 19, 2021. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v11.i11.1065
Breast cancer in schizophrenia could be interleukin-33-mediated
Milica M Borovcanin, Katarina Vesic
Milica M Borovcanin, Department of Psychiatry, University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kragujevac 34000, Serbia
Katarina Vesic, Department of Neurology, University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kragujevac 34000, Serbia
Author contributions: Borovcanin MM and Vesic K contributed equally to this work; Borovcanin MM presented the idea, structured the manuscript, searched the literature, integrated all parts of the manuscript, and drew two figures; Vesic K searched the literature, provided some new insights, and performed the final revision to the manuscript; and both authors read, additionally discussed and approved the final version of the manuscript.
Supported by Ministry of Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia (NO. 175069); Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac (NO. JP15-05).
Conflict-of-interest statement: Borovcanin MM has received research funding from Ministry of Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia (NO. 175069); Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac (NO. JP15-05). Vesic K declared no conflict of interest.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Milica M Borovcanin, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Medical Sciences, 69 Svetozara Markovica St, Kragujevac 34000, Serbia. milicaborovcanin@medf.kg.ac.rs
Received: May 30, 2021
Peer-review started: May 30, 2021
First decision: July 14, 2021
Revised: July 21, 2021
Accepted: September 22, 2021
Article in press: September 22, 2021
Published online: November 19, 2021
Processing time: 170 Days and 4.3 Hours
Abstract

Recent epidemiological and genetic studies have revealed an interconnection between schizophrenia and breast cancer. The mutual underlying pathophysiological mechanisms may be immunologically driven. A new cluster of molecules called alarmins may be involved in sterile brain inflammation, and we have already reported the potential impact of interleukin-33 (IL-33) on positive symptoms onset and the role of its soluble trans-membranes full length receptor (sST2) on amelioration of negative symptoms in schizophrenia genesis. Furthermore, these molecules have already been shown to be involved in breast cancer etiopathogenesis. In this review article, we aim to describe the IL-33/suppressor of tumorigenicity 2 (ST2) axis as a crossroad in schizophrenia-breast cancer comorbidity. Considering that raloxifene could be tissue-specific and improve cognition and that tamoxifen resistance in breast carcinoma could be improved by strategies targeting IL-33, these selective estrogen receptor modulators could be useful in complementary treatment. These observations could guide further somatic, as well as psychiatric therapeutical protocols by incorporating what is known about immunity in schizophrenia.

Keywords: Interleukin-33; Schizophrenia; Breast cancer; Neurodegeneration

Core Tip: The frequent occurrence of breast carcinoma in female patients with schizophrenia could indicate a specific immunological perturbation in both diseases. A common denominator could be interleukin-33 (IL-33). In this review article, we aim to describe the IL-33/suppressor of tumorigenicity 2 axis as a crossroad in schizophrenia-breast cancer comorbidity. Considering that raloxifene could be tissue-specific and improve cognition and that tamoxifen resistance in breast carcinoma could be improved by strategies targeting IL-33, these selective estrogen receptor modulators could be useful in complementary treatment. These observations could guide further somatic, as well as psychiatric therapeutical protocols by incorporating what is known about immunity in schizophrenia.