Objective Worldwide, breast cancer is the most prevalent and common type of cancer. Physical examination and mammography with a range of sensitivities are currently used as screening methods. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) lacks estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) gene expression. MicroRNAs (miRNA) as potential prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers, miRNA 125, 200c, 221, 21, and 34a were selected for study.

Materials and Methods Here, 25 consenting TNBC patients with negative ER/PR/HER-2 status and compatible history were accrued from the Department of Oncosurgery, All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhopal. Serum from participants and 25 controls was collected for quantitative estimation of miRNA by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. After being treated with epirubicin, capecitabine, and paclitaxel, the MDA-MB-231 cell line's expression of these miRNA subtypes was also examined.

Results miRNA125 (p< 0.0001) and miRNA21 (p< 0.05) were found to be statistically significant. miR125 (ΔCt [cycle threshold] 2.77) was seen to be upregulated and miR21 (ΔCt -1.61) was seen to be downregulated in TNBC patients. Epirubicin treatment caused miR125 to be downregulated, but capecitabine treatment caused miR125 to be upregulated. Paclitaxel was seen to downregulate miR21. All three chemotherapeutic agents were seen to downregulate miR34a.

Conclusion miRNAs can be developed into a reliable biomarker and prognostic tool with more research. They can also help develop and improve pharmaco-therapeutic strategies.

I guarantee this is my original work, and I have the rights in the work. I am submitting the work for first publication in this journal and it is not being considered for publication elsewhere. It has not already been published elsewhere, and I have obtained and can supply all necessary permissions for the reproduction of any copyright works not owned by you.

Ref No.-IHEC-LOP/2019/EF0111 by, Institutional Human Ethics Committee, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.

*Poulami Sarkar and Dr Rashmi Chowdhary are first and Joint authors in this study.

Received: 24 April 2023

Accepted: 09 August 2023

Article published online:
05 September 2023

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