The Impact of miRNA-425 and miRNA-373 in the Pathogenesis of Breast Cancer

Background: Biomarkers that monitor treatment efficacy could be very useful for early response evaluation, therapy direction, and prognosis prediction. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a type of noncoding RNA that is only 22 nucleotides long regulate genes after transcription has taken place. miRNAs are essential regulators of cancer biology and are involved in the regulation of key processes such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and metastasis. Methods: This study included 100 women with breast cancer (BC) who attended Al-Amal Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq between June 2023 and October 2023. The parameters were evaluated using questionnaires and medical records, including human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) receptors, disease progesterone (PR), grade, age, tumor stage, family history, type, location, and estrogen (ER). Results: The serum Sera' levels (median (IQR)) were significantly higher in patients with BC than in healthy controls (HCs), 104.05 pg/ml versus 26.85 pg/ml (P< 0.001). Sera' levels (median (IQR)) of RETN were significantly higher in the BC group in comparison with HCs, 1.16 ng/ml versus 0.41 ng/ml, respectively (P< 0.001). The expression levels of miR-373 were significantly higher in the BC group than in the HCs (median (IQR)), 3.54 (8.23) fold change versus 1 fold change, respectively (P< 0.001). The expression levels of miR-425 were significantly higher in the BC group than in the HCs (median (IQR)), 4.80 (10.22) versus 1 fold change, respectively (P< 0.001). Conclusion: The biomarkers CEA, RETN, miR-373, and miR-425 were identified as promising candidates for enhancing the diagnostic workup, prognosis, and therapy of BC. CEA and RETN are established markers that aid in the early detection and monitoring of tumor progression, whereas miR-373 and miR-425 are involved in critical processes such as tumor metastasis, EMT, and chemo resistance.