The Elevated Serum Interleukin-40 Levels and Gene Expression as Novel Biomarkers in Iraqi Women with Breast Cancer IL-40 as a biomarker in Iraqi BC
Abstract
Background: Breast cancer (BC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality and morbidity among women worldwide. Recent evidence highlights the role of inflammatory cytokines in cancer biology. This study aimed to evaluate the biomarker potential of interleukin-40 (IL-40) in BC by assessing its serum levels and gene expression in female Iraqi patients.
Methods: A case-control study included 100 patients with BC and 100 frequency-matched healthy controls (HCs) stratified by 5-year age intervals. Serum IL-40 levels were quantified using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and C17orf99 (the gene encoding IL-40) expression was analyzed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Statistical analyses were performed to compare age, body mass index (BMI), and clinical and molecular parameters.
Results: Patients with BC exhibited a significantly higher BMI (31.60 vs 26.63 kg/m²) and elevated serum IL-40 levels (20.26 ± 6.90 vs 14.08 ± 6.12 ng/mL) compared with HCs. Gene expression analysis revealed a 3.7-fold upregulation of IL40 in patients with BC. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis demonstrated moderate diagnostic accuracy (area under the curve [AUC], 0.756).
Conclusion: Elevated IL-40 levels and gene expression in patients with BC highlight their potential role in disease pathogenesis and utility as diagnostic biomarkers. The findings contribute to our understanding of BC pathogenesis. IL-40 can serve as a promising biomarker for risk assessment and early detection in women in Iraq.
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