Abstract
BACKGROUND: Early diagnosis of breast cancer is crucial for successful management and better disease outcomes. Using blood samples as a source of minimally invasive cancer biomarkers, is an essential research area. We aimed to evaluate the role of serum ARID1A mRNA as a circulating biomarker in breast cancer patients. METHODS: This case control study enrolled 60 newly diagnosed female breast cancer patients and 60 age matched control subjects. Total RNA extraction was performed from serum samples of all subjects, followed by reverse transcription and real time polymerase chain reaction for ARID1A gene expression. The expression level was studied for its correlation with different clinical and histopathological features of the study patients. RESULTS: Serum level of ARID1A mRNA was significantly lower in breast cancer patients than in control subjects (p<0.001). Median (min.-max.) of serum ARID1A in patients was 0.27 (0.005 - 3.92), versus 0.99 (0.27 - 3.53) in control subjects. Using ROC curve, ARID1A mRNA showed an AUC of 0.898, and 88.33% diagnostic sensitivity, 81.67% specificity. Low expression was significantly associated with increased tumor size, estrogen and progesterone receptor negativity, high Ki-67 labelling index, and high histological grade. No significant association was detected with HER2 status, tumor histopathological type, or lymph node spread. CONCLUSION: ARID1A mRNA in serum is a promising circulating biomarker that can help in diagnosis of breast cancer. Furthermore, the presented correlations indicate a potential prognostic value of serum ARID1A mRNA, where decreased level of this biomarker was associated with histopathological findings suggestive of a poor outcome.