Evaluation of miR-206 as a Potential Biomarker in a Sample of Iraqi Breast Cancer Patient

Abstract

Breast cancer (BC) is a heterogeneous malignant disease that begins in the tissues of the breast. It is characterized by the unregulated proliferation of cells, frequently leading to the development of tumors. The illness has a variety of molecular subtypes, including luminal A, luminal B, HER2-positive, and triple-negative, each characterized by unique genetic profiles and clinical outcomes. In this study the expression of miR-206 was examined in a sample of Iraqi female BC patients and its correlation with patients’ demographic distribution and disease characteristics, potentially providing insights into BC diagnosis and progression.The study involved 60 female BC patients and 60 healthy controls. Demographic analysis showed most BC cases (70%) occurred in women aged 40-59 years, with 65% having a family history of BC. Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) was the most common type (85%), and luminal A the predominant molecular subtype (57%). Stage II and III showed the highest prevalence of BC, 40% and 36%, respectively. Using RT-qPCR with miR-16 as an internal reference, it was found that miR-206 was significantly downregulated (0.35-fold) in BC patients, with no significant differences among molecular subtypes but significantly downregulated in stages II, III, and IV compared to stage I. These findings suggested that miR-206 may play roles in BC development and progression.