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Cancer, Lipids, and Metabolism / Atherosclerosis and Cardiovascular Diseases · Review
Frontiers in Pharmacology · August 13, 2026
Raises a question worth testing. It does not answer one.
This systematic review synthesizes 19 studies on PCSK9 in breast cancer, finding consistent preclinical evidence for a pro-tumorigenic role but conflicting clinical evidence regarding prognostic significance. The source concludes that PCSK9's clinical relevance is context-dependent and dependent on molecular subtype and tumor microenvironment, indicating insufficient evidence for clinical application and highlighting the need for further well-designed studies.
Systematic review (PRISMA-compliant). Studies of PCSK9 in breast cancer, including preclinical models and clinical investigations; no specific patient cohort characteristics described.. Intervention: PCSK9 expression, regulation, or inhibition in breast cancer models and patients.
Nineteen studies met inclusion criteria (experimental and clinical investigations) Preclinical evidence consistently demonstrates PCSK9 promotes tumorigenesis by enhancing cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and metastasis Clinical findings remain inconsistent with conflicting evidence regarding PCSK9 expression and patient prognosis
Safety was not reported in the material analysed. Check the source before drawing any conclusion about harm.
Clinicians should not yet incorporate PCSK9 as a biomarker or therapeutic target in breast cancer management. Further well-designed prospective clinical studies stratified by molecular subtype are needed to establish its prognostic and predictive value.
A systematic review synthesizing heterogeneous preclinical and clinical evidence with conflicting findings, raising mechanistic questions about PCSK9 in breast cancer rather than answering them definitively.
As stated by the source record.
Quoted from the source exactly as published.
Clinicians should not yet incorporate PCSK9 as a biomarker or therapeutic target in breast cancer management. Further well-designed prospective clinical studies stratified by molecular subtype are needed to establish its prognostic and predictive value.
Graded across the dimensions that decide whether you should act, each from what the source actually supports. There is no single score, and where a dimension was not assessed it says so.
Introduction Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease in which accurate classification based on biomarker expression is essential for effective therapeutic decision-making. Consequently, the identification of novel biomarkers remains a research priority. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), a key regulator of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) metabolism via its interaction with the LDL receptor (LDLR), has been extensively studied in cardiovascular disease. More recently, emerging evidence indicates that PCSK9 is highly expressed in several malignancies and may contribute to cancer progression, including in breast cancer. Methods A systematic literature review was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta- Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. PubMed (NCBI), Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched for studies published between 9 and 16 September 2025. Eligible studies included experimental ( in vitro, in vivo, and in silico ) and clinical investigations evaluating the role of PCSK9 in breast cancer. Given the heterogeneity in study designs and outcomes, findings were synthesized narratively. Results Nineteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Preclinical evidence consistently demonstrates that PCSK9 promotes tumorigenesis by enhancing cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and metastasis, supporting its potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target. However, clinical findings remain inconsistent, with conflicting evidence regarding the association between PCSK9 expression and patient prognosis. Conclusion In conclusion, while preclinical studies indicate a pro-tumorigenic role for PCSK9, its clinical significance in breast cancer appears to be context-dependent. The effects of PCSK9 vary according to molecular subtype and are influenced by the tumor microenvironment. Further well-designed studies are needed to clarify its prognostic value and potential as a target for personalized therapy.
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