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 ELISA, and C17orf99 IL-40 gene expression was analyzed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Statistical analyses were performed to compare age, body mass index (BMI), clinical, and molecular parameters.
Results: BC patients exhibited significantly greater BMI (31.60 vs. 26.63 kg/m², p = 0.0007) and elevated serum IL-40 levels (20.26 ± 6.90 vs. 14.08 ± 6.12 ng/mL, p < 0.0001). Gene expression analysis revealed 3.7-fold upregulation of IL-40 in patients with BC (p = 0.0002). ROC curve analysis demonstrated a moderate diagnostic accuracy (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 BC pathogenesis and serve as promising biomarkers for risk assessment and early detection in women in Iraqi.
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