Publication Details
Abstract
Background: Breast cancer is a complex malignancy characterized by uncontrolled proliferation of abnormal cells within breast tissue, and representing one of the most prevalent cancers affecting women globally leading to cancer-related mortality. Aim: Gene expression profiling of MTHFR-C677T to estimate association of breast cancer to folate metabolism with evaluation of immune and inflammatory responses in non-treated and treated patients to predict outcome of disease. Materials and methods: A total of 30 adult women diagnosed clinically as newly non-treated (15 women) and treated chemically and/or surgically (15 women) cases in addition to 15 healthy ones (negative control) were subjected to present study. Venous blood was sampled from all study population and used to serological measurement of immune [cluster of differentiation 25 (CD25), CD127, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)] and inflammatory [C-reactive protein (CRP)] markers by quantitative ELISA; and molecular genotyping of MTHFR-C677T gene by Tetra-ARMS-PCR. Results: Among the population of negative population, differences between the observed and expected data of CC, CT and TT were insignificant. The comparison of allele and genotypes frequency concerning the MTHFR-C677T SNP between the groups of breast cancer patients and healthy negative control detected a significant variation in their values. Concerning alleles, significant elevation was detected in frequency distribution of T allele and the risk in breast cancer patients when compared to negative control population. Regarding genotypes, frequency of TT and the risk were significantly higher in breast cancer patients than those of negative control. Immunologically, the findings of CD25, CD127, IL-6, and TNF-α were shown a significant elevation in non-treated breast cancer patients when compared to those of treated patients and negative control. Subsequently, values of treated breast cancer patients were significantly higher than those of negative control individuals. However, insignificant variation was seen in values of VEGF among the study population; non-treated and treated breast cancer patients as well as the negative control. For inflammatory marker, values of CRP were higher in non-treated breast cancer patients than those of treated breast cancer patients and negative control. Also, the findings of treated breast cancer patients were higher than those of negative control. Conclusion: Significant alteration in alleles and genotypes frequency of MTHFR-C677T gene indicates that folate metabolism contributes to the risk of female breast cancer. Increases in immunologic and inflammatory responses in non-treated and treated breast cancer patients might refer to the relevant of such markers in prognosis of disease.