Can Toll-Like Receptor 4 Gene Polymorphism Play A Role in Pathogenesis of Breast Cancer?

Abstract Introduction: Breast cancer is one of the most common causes of death from cancer in women worldwide. Dynamic interaction between tumors and the immune system is essential for tumor survival, growth, and metastasis. The immune system is known to play a major role in preventing tumor progression by recognizing tumor antigens. Recent studies have shown that dysregulation of innate immunity receptors such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play an important role in the activation of natural and adaptive immunity in response to endogenous hazard signals from pathogens and damaged or dead cells. TLRs are expressed in the immune system cells and some epithelial cells. Recent studies have shown that these receptors are also exaggerated in malignant breast cancer cells. Many studies have shown that TLR4 gene expression is increased in breast cancer cells, but also associated with metastasis. However, there is no study that could correlate TLR4 gene polymorphisms with breast cancer. Materials and methods: We conducted a case study with 100 patients and 100 healthy subjects and planned to investigate whether there is a relationship between TLR4 gene polymorphisms [rs4986790 (Asp299Gly) ve rs4986791 (Thr399Ile)] and breast cancer. In this study, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method was used for gene polymorphisms. Results: It was observed that there was relationship between breast cancer and TLR4 gene polymorphisms. Because TLR-4 plays an active role in the innate immune system, the loss of function of this protein may lead to a depressed immune response, thus promoting cancer development.