Assessment of serum CLEC4M and glutathione levels in newly diagnosed cervical cancer patients in Iraq: A case-control study

Introduction: Cervical cancer is a significant health issue globally, with human papillomavirus (HPV) being a primary causative factor. In Iraq, the prevalence and specific risk factors for cervical cancer remain under-explored, necessitating studies that assess genetic and biochemical markers like C-type lectin domain family four-member M (CLEC4M) and glutathione (GSH). Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate serum CLEC4M and GSH Levels in newly diagnosed cervical neoplasm patients in Iraq with the aim of their accuracy evaluation in the diagnosis of this cancer. Patients and Methods: The case-control study enrolled a total of 70 individuals, comprising 35 recently diagnosed cervical cancer patients and an equal number of 35 healthy female participants who served as the control group. Blood samples were collected from both the patient and control groups to facilitate biochemical analyses. The levels of serum CLEC4M were quantified using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method, while the concentration of GSH was determined using a spectrophotometer. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was employed to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of CLEC4M and GSH as biomarkers in diagnosing cervical cancer. Results: The results indicated that CLEC4M levels were significantly elevated in cervical cancer patients compared to healthy controls; in contrast, GSH levels were significantly lower in the cancer group (P<0.05). The ROC curve analysis revealed that CLEC4M exhibited a sensitivity of 71.4% and a specificity of 68.6%, reflecting moderate diagnostic performance for cervical cancer diagnosis; in comparison, GSH demonstrated superior diagnostic capability with a sensitivity of 80% and an exceptional specificity of 97.1%. Conclusion: This study demonstrates significant differences in biomarker levels associated with cervical cancer, with elevated CLEC4M and decreased GSH levels observed in patients compared to healthy controls. The ROC curve analysis indicates that while CLEC4M has moderate diagnostic performance, GSH shows superior sensitivity and specificity, suggesting its potential as a valuable biomarker for enhancing cervical cancer diagnosis.