The Correlation between P53 and Interleukins (IL-2, IL-8) and their role in Breast Cancers

Background: P53 is a crucial tumor suppressor gene involved in maintaining genomic stability. This study examines the correlation between P53 expression and interleukins (IL-2, IL-8) in breast cancer (BC) patients and evaluates their potential as biomarkers. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 40 BC patients and 20 healthy controls. Quantitative real-time PCR (RT-PCR) was used to assess P53 expression, while ELISA measured IL-2, IL-8, and P53 titers. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS. Results: BC patients exhibited significantly higher IL-2 (10.6 ± 3.2 pg/ml, p=0.003) and IL-8 (25.7 ± 4.5 pg/ml, p=0.001) levels compared to controls. In contrast, P53 titers were lower in BC patients (129.7 ± 55.9 pg/ml) than in controls (175.6 ± 233.8 pg/ml, p=0.02). A weak positive correlation was found between IL-2 and P53 (r=0.01), while IL-8 had a weak negative correlation with P53 (r=-0.02). RT-PCR analysis of 15 selected patients revealed a significant reduction in P53 expression (p=0.002) compared to controls. Conclusion: The study suggests that increased IL-2 and IL-8 levels, along with decreased P53 expression, may contribute to BC progression. These cytokines could serve as potential biomarkers for prognosis and diagnosis. However, limitations include a small sample size, lack of clinical data, and weak correlations, requiring further studies with larger cohorts and comprehensive clinical profiling.