Public Health and Epidemiology: Open Access
New Extended Investigations In Breast Cancer Diagnosis, Including Mirnas â Short Review
Abstract
Aurelian Udristioiu, Manole Cojocaru and Ioan-Ovidiu Gheorghe
Background. Breast cancer impacts over one million patients worldwide annually, with prognosis influenced by clinical and biological factors such as age, tumor size, nodal involvement, and histological grade. Objective. The aim of this short literature review was to highlight the role of miRNA in breast cancer, showing that aberrant miRNA expressions in this type of cancer play a pivotal role in cancer prognosis. Methodology. This brief review includes the latest data published in the speciality literature which demonstrated that aberrant miRNA expression in breast cancer, associated with BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations, present a poor prognosis after conventional oncological treatment. Results. The mutated BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are among the most critical genetic markers associated with inherited breast cancer predisposition, along with mutations in the PTEN and P53 genes. Breast cancer susceptibility related to BRCA1 mutations can reach up to 87% in older women. Breast cancer treatments may include chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, surgery and/or radiotherapy, depending on the stage and molecular characteristics at diagnosis. Modern emerging therapies use and modify miRNA strands that naturally inhibit cell division. Conclusions. The authors conclude that understanding the genetic structure of breast cancer provides valuable scientific insights that can enhance the prediction of tumor aggressiveness in breast cancerand improve treatment outcomes.