•Immunological Study On Breast Cancer In Hilla Province

Abstract

background: Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the general population. Breast cancer is the top. In Iraq, where the population was exposed to high levels of depleted uranium following the first and second Gulf Wars, breast cancer became the most common tumor type in females.1Interleukin-10 (IL-10) and Interleukin 12 (IL-12) are the main immunological interplayers against cancer, and their impairment can be observed in many cancers, including breast cancer. Over the last ten years, there has been a three-fold increase in the incidence of breast cancer, with most of this increase being attributed to a particularly aggressive type of the cancer.Objectives: The high incidence rate of breast cancer in the last few years in Iraq inspired us to create an investigation about the immunological bases of breast cancer in a series of local Iraqi women to see whether any differences in this immunological profile could be found in a population exposed to depleted uranium.Methods: A Case-control study was designed and applied. A total of 40 subjects were chosen for the immunological study. Blood samples were obtained at Hilla General Teaching Hospital, Breast Cancer Centre (Pathology Department). The ELISA method was used for the interleukins and β2-microglobulin detection.Results: In this study, the association between the levels of the IL-10 , IL-12 and β2microglobuline and breast cancer was evaluated. The data showed significant increase in these cytokines levels among breast cancer patients and healthy controls.Conclusions: The conclusions that can be extrapolated by this study are that, there was a significant increase in the levels of the IL-10 , IL-12 and β2-microglobuline among breast cancer patients and healthy controls.