Assessment of Trefoil Factor 1, cytokeratin 21-1, and Human matrix metalloproteinase 9 as novel diagnostic biomarkers for breast cancer

Background & objectives: Breast cancer is a major worldwide health issue. A delayed and often inadequate diagnosis results in the death of many women. As a result, it is beneficial to conduct research and analyze new markers for an early diagnosis and surveillance of the breast cancer. This study aimed to examine the following novel diagnostic biomarkers in the serum of women with breast cancer: Trefoil Factor 1 (TFF1), Cytokeratin 21-1 (CYRA21-1), and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) to establish any relationship in between. Methodology: This case-control study comprised of 72 women diagnosed with breast cancer. The participants were distributed as follows: pretreatment group (n = 15) and a post-treatment group with chemotherapy composed of anthracycline, cyclophosphamide, and docetaxel (ACD) (n = 57). A total of 15 healthy women were included in the control group. Concentrations of TFF1, CYRA21-1, and MPP-9 were measured in all study groups. Results: The results revealed significant increases in TFF1, CYRA21-1, and MPP-9 levels (P< 0.000) in all patient groups before and after chemotherapy compared to the control group. TFF1 levels also showed a significant positive correlation with MPP-9 levels. Conclusion: This study identified TFF1, CYFRA 21-1, and MMP-9 as valuable diagnostic biomarkers for the diagnosis of breast cancer with differential response to chemotherapy. While CYFRA 21-1 and MMP-9 showed consistent diagnostic potential, TFF1 levels were partially reduced post-treatment. Keywords: Biomarkers; Breast cancer; Chemotherapy; TFF1; CYRA21-1; MPP-9. Citation: Owaid HA, Jewad AM. Assessment of trefoil factor 1, cytokeratin 21-1, and human matrix metalloproteinase 9 as novel diagnostic biomarkers for breast cancer. Anaesth. pain intensive care 2025;29(3):436-443. DOI: 10.35975/apic.v29i3.2685 Received: February 17, 2025; Revised: February 22, 2025; Accepted: March 18, 2025