Serum CCL2 and CXCL8 Levels in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Treatment in Karbala, Iraq: Associations with Hormonal Receptor Status and Therapeutic Modalities: Serum CCL2 and CXCL8 Levels

Intisar Mohammed Kashash; Kiaser Abdulsajjad M. Hussain; Alaa Hussein Mahdi

doi:10.63939/zmkepz66

Authors

Intisar Mohammed Kashash Department of Biology, College of Education for pure, University of Kerbala, Iraq Author
Kiaser Abdulsajjad M. Hussain Department of Biology, College of Education for pure, University of Kerbala, Iraq Author
Alaa Hussein Mahdi Department of Biology, College of Education for pure, University of Kerbala, Iraq Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.63939/zmkepz66

Keywords:

Breast cancer, CCL2, CXCL8, ELISA, HER2, ER, PR, Inflammation, Iraq

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is among the most prevalent cancers amongst females and is strongly related to inflammatory reactions in the tumor microenvironment. The role of chemokines such as CCL2 and CXCL8 in the development of tumor cells, tumor angiogenesis, and immune system modulation is well established. objective: The current study aimed to assess serum concentrations of CCL2 and CXCL8 chemokines in breast cancer patients under treatment in Karbala governorate, Iraq, and the correlation with hormonal receptor HER2, ER, PR status and treatment strategies. Methodology: A case-control design was carried out on 60 breast cancer patients and 40 healthy subjects. Blood samples were taken from patients during their treatment, and full blood count was conducted. Measurement of serum concentrations of CCL2 and CXCL8 was done using sandwich ELISA method. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS program version 25, and p ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The outcomes indicate that there was a remarkable difference in chemokine serum concentrations between breast cancer patients and controls. Serum concentration of CCL2 was considerably lower than that in the control group in some molecular subtypes while the serum concentration of CXCL8 was significantly higher in breast cancer patients (p = 0.012). There was a significant association between chemokine concentration and HER2, ER, and PR receptor status. Significantly higher concentrations of CCL2 and CXCL8 were also highly correlated with the treatment strategy, with the maximum concentration being observed in those treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy (p ≤ 0.001). High positive correlations between CCL2 and CXCL8 were established. The above findings show that CCL2 and CXCL8 have an important role in the inflammatory microenvironment of breast cancer. CXCL8 concentration is constantly higher in breast cancer patients while CCL2 concentration varies according to the receptor status and treatment type. Conclusions: CXCL8 may be used as a stable biomarker for systemic inflammation in breast cancer patients undergoing treatment. CCL2 levels are affected by hormone receptor status and the type of treatment. Further longitudinal studies are needed to evaluate its diagnostic and prognostic potential.

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Serum CCL2 and CXCL8 Levels in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Treatment in Karbala, Iraq: Associations with Hormonal Receptor Status and Therapeutic Modalities