Serum Exosome Count and Size in Breast Cancer: A Comparative 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: Exosomes are nano-sized extracellular vesicles with crucial roles in intercellular communication and cancer progression. Their diagnostic potential in breast cancer has prompted increasing interest in their quantitative and morphological characterization. Objectives: This study aimed to compare the serum exosome count and size between breast cancer patients and healthy controls to assess their potential as non-invasive biomarkers. Methodology: Serum samples were collected from 20 breast cancer patients and 5 healthy women. Exosomes were isolated using a commercial kit and characterized using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Exosome count and size were statistically analyzed using the Mann–Whitney U test and independent samples t-test, respectively. Results: Exosomes in both groups exhibited cup-shaped morphology with diameters ranging from 30 to 150 nm. A statistically significant increase in exosome count was observed in breast cancer patients compared to controls (p = 0.001), with a large effect size (r=0.59). However, no significant difference in exosome size was found between groups (p = 0.113), although a moderate effect size (Cohen’s d = 0.67) suggests a potential trend toward smaller exosomes in the cancer group. Conclusion: While exosome count was significantly elevated in breast cancer patients, size alone did not differ significantly. This reinforces recent findings that the diagnostic relevance of exosomes may lie more in their molecular content than in their physical dimensions. These findings support further exploration of exosomal cargo as a promising avenue for breast cancer diagnostics and prognostics.

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