Exosomal lncRNA NRON as a Potential Biomarker in Breast Cancer: Analytical Study

Document Type : New and original researches in the field of Microbiology.

Authors

1 Karbala Education, Ministry of Education, Iraq

2 Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Kufa University, Iraq

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer remains a significant global health challenge, underscoring the need for novel, non-invasive biomarkers for early detection and disease monitoring. Exosomes, as extracellular vesicles enriched with regulatory non-coding RNAs, have emerged as promising candidates for biomarker discovery. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic potential of exosomal long non-coding RNA NRON (lncRNA NRON) in the serum of breast cancer patients and to examine its association with clinical parameters, including tumor size and metastasis status. Methodology: Serum samples were obtained from 70 breast cancer female patients and 20 healthy controls. Exosomes were isolated using the EXOCIB-S kit, followed by RNA extraction using the FavorPrep™ miRNA Isolation Kit. Quantitative analysis of NRON expression was conducted using GoTaq® 1-Step RT-qPCR. Statistical comparisons between groups and correlation analyses with clinical features were performed using appropriate tests. Results: Exosomal NRON levels were significantly elevated in breast cancer patients compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001). While no significant correlation was observed between NRON expression and tumor size (p = 0.579), statistically significant association was noted with metastasis status (p = 0.004), suggesting a possible role in cancer dissemination. Conclusion: This study is the first to demonstrate upregulation of exosomal NRON in the serum of breast cancer patients, highlighting its potential as a non-invasive diagnostic biomarker. Although its link to tumor size remains inconclusive, the observed association with metastasis warrants further investigation into the mechanistic role of NRON in breast cancer progression and its potential as a therapeutic target.

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