A Cross-Sectional Study of RankL and NF-Κβ Levels Among Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Patients Attending Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria Nigeria: Preliminary Investigations and Implications on Disease Subtypes, Severity and Therapy

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer incidence and mortality is characterized by variations in disease pathogenesis and treatment outcomes across racial and ethnic boundaries in which RANKL and NF-κβ levels are central especially among postmenopausal breast cancer patients. Aims and Objectives: This study sought to examine if RANKL, NF-κβ and oxidative stress levels were associated with disease subtypes, severity, and chemotherapy courses among the postmenopausal breast cancer patients attending Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital. Materials and Methods: We examined RANKL and NF-κβ levels in serum of postmenopausal breast cancer patients attending Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) using ELISA kits. Sociodemographic characteristic and clinical parameters of the patients were documented using questionnaires. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 54.7 ± 6.7 years, while the modal age was 45-50 years. Triple negative breast cancer subtype accounted for 40% of the patients, while 83.3% had invasive carcinoma histological type. Serum RANKL was significantly (p<0.05) higher (40%) in breast cancer patients when compared to apparently healthy control, but lowest in triple negative patients when compared to other subtypes. NF-κβ concentration was significantly (p<0.05) higher (83.7%) in breast cancer patients but highest among triple negative and HER2-enriched patients when compared to apparently healthy. NF-κβ correlated with third chemotherapy course of chemotherapy. Oxidative stress markers were significantly (p<0.05) higher in breast cancer patients when compared to apparently healthy control. A significant (p<0.05) association between RANKL, NF-κβ concentrations and disease severity (stage I to stage IV) was also observed. Conclusion: RANKL and NF-κβ levels were associated with disease subtypes, severity, and chemotherapy courses among the postmenopausal breast cancer patients. This could serve as a preliminary source of information for further studies on their prognostic value.