Exploring the miRNA-148b and the caspase-3/Bcl-2/Bax axis as a potential predictive marker in breast cancer

Breast cancers (BCs) are the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women due to a lack of prediction, diagnosis, and follow-up. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) in liquid biopsies (LBs) are promising tools for the prediction and follow-up of cancer. This study aims to investigate and compare serum miRNA-148b, caspase-3, Bax, Bcl-2, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of BC patients with healthy controls. In this study, 300 women were included and divided into four groups of 75 each: Group 1 consisted of healthy controls, Group 2 of early-stage BC patients, Group 3 of chemotherapy-treated BC patients, and Group 4 of mastectomy-treated BC patients. Blood samples were collected for a complete blood count and serum samples were tested for miRNA-148b Bax, caspase-3, Bcl-2, and TAC. RT/PCR, ELISA and spectrophotometric methods were used to determine these parameters. In addition, histopathological examinations were performed on breast tissue samples. The present results indicated that BC patients exhibited elevated miRNA-148b, Bax, and Bcl-2 expressions compared to healthy controls. Importantly, advanced BC stages showed significantly higher miRNA-148b levels than early stages. However, levels of caspase-3 and TAC were reduced in BC patients compared to healthy controls. Histopathological analysis revealed various alterations in breast tissues, including nuclear changes, the presence of giant cells, and inflammation. The present study concluded that miRNA-148b and Bcl-2 are markedly elevated in the serum of BC patients compared to healthy subjects; however, Bax and caspase-3 levels were reduced. These findings underscore that blood miRNA-148b and caspase-3 are promising avenues for the prediction and follow-up of BC patients.