Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention最新文献

{"title":"Clinicopathological Features and Trends in the Incidence of Female Breast Cancer : Results of the Northern Tunisia Cancer Registry (1994-2018).","authors":"Houyem Khiari, Soumaya Henchiri, Saida Sakhri, Hajer Chourou, Rim Ben Aziza, Hajer Ben Mansour, Cyrine Benfguira, Najet Mahjoub, Ali Mrabet","doi":":10.31557/APJCP.2026.27.10.3533","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/:10.31557/APJCP.2026.27.10.3533","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in women worldwide and in Tunisia. The objective of this study was to (1) describe the epidemiological characteristics of BC from the Northern Tunisia Cancer Registry (NTCR) in 2018, and (2) analyze trends in the incidence of BC over the period 1994-2018.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a population-based retrospective study using data from the Northern Tunisia Cancer Registry (NTCR). During the period 1994-2018, a total of 21,673 primary female BC cases were analysed. The NTCR collected, actively and retrospectively, data from all sources of cancer-related care in both public and private healthcare sectors across the Northern Tunisia region. This region encompasses 2,813,900 females. Crude and standardized incidence rates were calculated. Incidence trend analysis was performed using Joinpoint software, version 6.0.1.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results of this study showed a significant increase in the incidence of BC in northern Tunisia from 30.0/100,000 in 1994 to 52.4/100,000 in 2018, with an Average Annual Percentage Change (AAPC) of 2.7%; 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.8; 3.6]; p<0.05. The trend in BC incidence across age groups in women showed a significantly increasing trend for the 55-74-year age groups. The proportion of localized BC increased from 28.3% in 1994 to 46.5% in 2018, with an AAPC of 2%; 95% CI [1.4; 2.7]; p<0.001. On the other hand, the trend in the proportion of cases with distant-stage disease showed a downward trend from 17.8% to 14.6%; 95% CI [-1.6; 0.1]; p=0.06. The trend in the mean tumor size of BC during the period 1994-2018 showed a significantly downward trend, from 3.5 cm in 1994 to 2.6 cm in 2018, with an AAPC of -1.57; 95% CI [-2.0; -1.2]; p<0.001. The morphological verification percentage was 97.2%.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The results of this study suggest the need to strengthen the current strategy for early diagnosis of BC and to improve care with equitable access for all Tunisian women.</p>","PeriodicalId":55451,"journal":{"name":"Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention","volume":"27 10","pages":"3533-3542"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149277311","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ubiquitin Protease Levels and Mitochondrial DNA Synthesis in Multiple Myeloma.","authors":"Wafaa Mahdi, Anwar Jasib Almzaiel","doi":"10.31557/APJCP.2026.27.10.3517","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31557/APJCP.2026.27.10.3517","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The deregulation of the ubiquitin system is linked to several disorders, including cancer, and is implicated in MM. The study aimed to determine serum β-catenin and UCHL1 concentration and relate it to the risk of developing MM and to assess mitochondrial DNA by RT-qPCR.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study was conducted in October 2023 to February 2024. The study included 20 men and 20 women diagnosed with MM  by their physicians and a total of 40 individuals who were in good health and had no prior medical history of MM . A 5 mL of blood were withdrawn from patients and controls groups.  The serum beta-catenin protein (β-catenin) , ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCHL1) were measured by ELISA and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was assessed by qPCR.</p><p><strong>Result: </strong>The results clearly showed a significant decrease in level of UCHL1, β-catenin in MM patients compared to level in control group ( P = 0.00018) . The result also showed elevated level of mtDNA synthesis in patients with MM compared to control group (P = 0.00014). Based on the research data, the patient group exhibited a significantly increase in levels of mtDNA synthesis compared to the control group (P = 0.01).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Decreased serum β -catinine and UCHL1 levels, along with an increase in mtDNA synthesis seems to have significant role in the progress of MM.</p>","PeriodicalId":55451,"journal":{"name":"Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention","volume":"27 10","pages":"3517-3523"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149277326","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Institutional and Demographic Barriers to Cervical Cancer Screening among Women in Rivers State, Nigeria.","authors":"Nhunanyachi Ohaka, Godwin N Okere, Nicholas C Asuzu, Golda O Ekenedo, Chidiebere P Ukandu, Doubrapade Walker, Favour A A M B B S Nwankwoala, Benedicta N Agu, Nkeiruka L Okoroafor, Veronica O Charles-Unadike, Georgy O Obiechina, Nancy C Dike, Lynda C Nwankwoala, Rosethe Rimande-Joel, Blessing A Amakuro, Anthony C Ugwuoke, Chituru Joel","doi":"10.31557/APJCP.2026.27.10.3809","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31557/APJCP.2026.27.10.3809","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The global goal of reaching a 70% cervical cancer screening rate by 2030 can hardly be achieved in the presence of screening constraints, especially in low- and middle-income countries. This study investigated institutional and demographic barriers to cervical cancer screening among women in the Rivers East District of Rivers State, Nigeria.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This community-based cross-sectional study sampled 1,200 respondents from a population of 3,871,377 women of reproductive age. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire with a reliability index of 0.83, obtained using Cronbach's alpha. Data collected from the 1,182 valid returned questionnaires were analysed using SPSS version 27, with descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (multiple regression) at α = 0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The findings of the study revealed that all institutional factors independently reduced screening uptake, R² = 0.271, F(4, 1179) = 109.83, p < 0.001; standardized effects were largest for health personnel unavailability (β = -0.203) and inconvenient clinic hours (β = -0.189). Demographic determinants were positively associated with uptake, R² = 0.296, F(4, 1179) = 123.34, p < 0.001, led by location (β = 0.231), religion (β = 0.218), age (β = 0.204), and marital status (β = 0.089).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>It was concluded that institutional and demographic factors constituted significant barriers to cervical cancer screening uptake among women in Rivers State and that government intervention is needed to increase staffing levels in screening centres and provide targeted outreach, especially in local communities.</p>","PeriodicalId":55451,"journal":{"name":"Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention","volume":"27 10","pages":"3809-3815"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149277371","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Epidemiology of Kaposi's Sarcoma in Uzbekistan, 2016-2024: Gender-, Age-, and Region-Specific Differences.","authors":"Malika Solmetova, Mirza-Ali Gafur-Akhunov, Alisher Yigitaliyev","doi":"10.31557/APJCP.2026.27.10.3663","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31557/APJCP.2026.27.10.3663","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To describe the epidemiology of Kaposi sarcoma in Uzbekistan from 2016 to 2024.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective descriptive study was conducted using aggregated registry data from the Uzbekistan Ministry of Health. Crude rates (CR) and WHO age-standardized incidence rates (ASR) per 100,000 population were estimated. Data were compared by sex, age, residence (urban/rural), and region using log-linear models and z-tests for statistical significance.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 351 cases were recorded; males accounted for 75.8% and females for 24.2%. Annual ASRs in men significantly exceeded those in women across all years (e.g., 0.20 vs. 0.08 in 2024, p < 0.01). Rural residents comprised 62.4% of the total cases. Significant regional heterogeneity was observed, with rural ASRs significantly higher than urban ASRs in specific regions, such as Bukhara (0.31 rural vs. 0.09 urban, p = 0.011) and Kashkadarya (0.25 rural vs. 0.05 urban, p < 0.001). The disease was concentrated in older populations, with the highest incidence observed in the 70-74 age group. Conversely, the Republic of Karakalpakstan demonstrated a significant overall downward trend (APC -13.73%, 95% CI -19.99 to -6.99, p < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The incidence of Kaposi sarcoma in Uzbekistan remains low but is characterized by a significant male predominance, concentration in older age groups, and marked geographic and urban-rural disparities.</p>","PeriodicalId":55451,"journal":{"name":"Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention","volume":"27 10","pages":"3663-3667"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149277391","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sonographic Features of Well-Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Recurrence in the Thyroid Bed After Thyroidectomy.","authors":"Nannapat Nuangchamnong, Nutsurang Promrach, Songpon Srisittimongkon, Pooriput Waongenngarm, Pantajaree Hiranrat, Sinirun Singnoi, Sitthichai Singto, Surachate Siripongsakun","doi":"10.31557/APJCP.2026.27.10.3731","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31557/APJCP.2026.27.10.3731","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy, with a steadily increasing incidence. Well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma, comprising papillary and follicular types, has an excellent prognosis but a relatively high recurrence rate, predominantly as local recurrence in the thyroid bed or cervical lymph nodes. Current surveillance relies on serum thyroglobulin measurement and ultrasound, both of which are accessible but prone to false-positive findings due to benign postoperative changes. This study aimed to identify ultrasound features of well-differentiated thyroid cancer recurrence in the thyroid bed after thyroidectomy and to compare the sensitivity of ultrasound with serum thyroglobulin for recurrence surveillance.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this retrospective study, we examined the sonographic features of thyroid bed lesions in two groups of patients (the recurrence group and the non-recurrence group) who had well-differentiated thyroid cancer from 2015 to 2023. The correlations between the sonographic features and recurrence were examined using the univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 260 lesions were identified from 184 patients, with 32 in the recurrence group and 228 in the non-recurrence group. Certain sonographic features were significantly associated with recurrence, including microcalcification, hypoechogenicity, cystic components, lesion size ≥ 5 mm, internal vascularity, and taller-than-wide shape. Ultrasound examination (in lesions ≥ 5 mm) combined with thyroglobulin measurement had 100% sensitivity for identifying recurrence.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Certain sonographic features, including microcalcification, hypoechogenicity, cystic components, lesion size ≥ 5 mm, internal vascularity, and a taller-than-wide shape, were associated with thyroid carcinoma recurrence after thyroidectomy. Therefore, ultrasound examination should be performed in combination with thyroglobulin assessment for the early detection and effective surveillance of local recurrence.</p>","PeriodicalId":55451,"journal":{"name":"Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention","volume":"27 10","pages":"3731-3738"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149277115","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Quantitative Reporting and Reproducibility in Monte Carlo Investigations of Field Size Effects.","authors":"Pratap Kumar Jena","doi":"10.31557/APJCP.2026.27.10.3509","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31557/APJCP.2026.27.10.3509","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":55451,"journal":{"name":"Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention","volume":"27 10","pages":"3509-3510"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149277369","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Beyond the Guidelines: Evaluating BI-RADS 3 Lesions in a High-Suspicion Breast Cancer Population: Outcomes and Clinical Implications.","authors":"Mahreen Rasool, Attka Maryam, Saman Chaudhry, Farwa Mohsin Ali, Kashif Siddique","doi":"10.31557/APJCP.2026.27.10.3637","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31557/APJCP.2026.27.10.3637","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>BI-RADS category 3 lesions are typically benign (<2% malignancy risk), managed with follow-up imaging, but their upgrade to BI-RADS 4 may indicate malignancy, particularly in high-risk patients. This study evaluates malignancy risk and predictors among BI-RADS 3 lesions upgraded to BI-RADS 4 in a cohort with a high prevalence of breast cancer history.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We retrospectively analyzed 352 patients undergoing breast ultrasound from June 2021 to June 2023, with 123 categorized as BI-RADS 3. Of these, 17 patients (18 lesions) were upgraded to BI-RADS 4 and biopsied. Data included age, prior breast cancer history (100/123, 81.3%), lesion characteristics (size, number, morphology), and histopathology. Descriptive statistics, binomial tests, Fisher's exact tests, and logistic regression were used to assess upgrade rates, malignancy rates, and predictors, with significance at p=0.05.</p><p><strong>Result: </strong>The upgrade rate was 13.8% (17/123; 95% CI: 8.5-21.0%), significantly exceeding the ACR's <2% benchmark (p=0.05). Among upgraded lesions, 11.1% (2/18; 95% CI: 1.4-34.7%) were malignant (recurrent breast cancer, lymphomatous lymph node), also surpassing the <2% benchmark (p=0.05). Benign outcomes mainly included stromal fibrosis (38.9%) followed by benign lymphadenopathy (27.8%), and fibroadenoma (22.2%). Lesion size (OR=1.15 per mm, p=0.05) and multiple lesions (OR=3.2, p=0.05) predicted malignancy, while age, cancer history, and morphology were not significant (p>0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The high upgrade and malignancy rates in this high-risk cohort suggest that BI-RADS 3 lesions with larger size or multiple foci, particularly in breast cancer survivors, may warrant earlier biopsy to detect malignancy, thereby emphasizing the need for refined surveillance criteria.</p>","PeriodicalId":55451,"journal":{"name":"Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention","volume":"27 10","pages":"3637-3643"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149277356","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, Obesity and Perceived Stress in Relation to Breast Cancer Risk among Moroccan Women: A Case - Control Study.","authors":"Hanae Khossossi, Hasna Ahyayauch, Aicha El Alami, Ahlame Aitouma, Mustapha Mouilly, Naoufel Ali Zeggwagh","doi":"10.31557/APJCP.2026.27.10.3717","DOIUrl":"10.31557/APJCP.2026.27.10.3717","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among Moroccan women. Although certain lifestyle factors like physical activity, sedentary habits, obesity, and psychological stress are suspected to play a role, evidence from North African populations remains limited. This study investigates the association between these factors and breast cancer among Moroccan women.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A case-control study was conducted in the Rabat region involving 148 women, with 74 newly diagnosed breast cancer cases and 74 controls. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire covering sociodemographic characteristics, reproductive and hormonal history, and lifestyle behaviors. Physical activity was evaluated using the validated Arabic version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, sedentary behavior was based on daily sitting time, and stress was measured using the Arabic Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>High physical activity was associated with a lower risk of breast cancer, while sedentary behavior and high stress were associated with an increased risk. Women with high stress levels had a notably higher risk than those with low stress. A family history of breast cancer and using hormonal contraceptives were also independently linked to a higher risk. These findings held true even after accounting for potential confounding factors.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study emphasizes how lifestyle and psychosocial factors like physical activity, sedentary habits, and psychological stress play a significant role in breast cancer risk for Moroccan women. Encouraging physical activity, reducing sedentary time, and managing stress could be vital in preventing breast cancer in this population.</p>","PeriodicalId":55451,"journal":{"name":"Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention","volume":"27 10","pages":"3717-3722"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149277343","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of Radiation Dose and Volume Changes in the Masticatory Apparatus and their Clinical Correlation with Trismus in Oral Cavity Cancer Patients.","authors":"Maham Khan, Laraib Khan, Tooba Ali, Mariam Hina, Fabiha Shakeel, Maria Tariq, Asim Hafiz, Nasir Ali, Ahmed Nadeem Abbasi, Bilal Mazhar Qureshi","doi":"10.31557/APJCP.2026.27.10.3785","DOIUrl":"10.31557/APJCP.2026.27.10.3785","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To investigate the radiation dose-volume effects on the masticatory apparatus and determine their correlation with trismus severity and muscle atrophy in patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This prospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary care oncology center, involving 30 patients undergoing adjuvant external beam radiotherapy for OSCC. Trismus was assessed using the maximal incisor distance (MID) at baseline and three months post-radiotherapy. The masseter, medial and lateral pterygoid, and temporalis muscles were contoured on planning and follow-up CT scans, and muscle volumes were calculated. Mean radiation doses were extracted from dose-volume histograms (DVHs). Statistical analyses, including paired t-tests and Pearson's correlation, were performed to evaluate the relationships between dose, volume loss, and functional decline.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Post-radiotherapy, a significant reduction in MID was observed (p = 0.001), and all patients demonstrated either persistence or progression of trismus. Significant volume loss occurred in all ipsilateral muscles (p < 0.001), particularly the temporalis (mean loss, 3.32 cm³) and masseter (mean loss, 2.49 cm³). Radiation dose significantly correlated with volume reduction in the ipsilateral masseter (r = 0.511, p = 0.004) and pterygoids (r = 0.448, p = 0.013). Furthermore, worsening trismus was strongly associated with volume loss in the ipsilateral masseter (r = -0.464, p = 0.010) and temporalis (r = -0.533, p = 0.002). Age > 50 years and buccal mucosa primary sites were identified as significant clinical predictors of severe trismus.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Radiation-induced trismus is driven by dose-dependent atrophy of the masticatory muscles, specifically the ipsilateral masseter and temporalis. Consideration of radiation dose to the masticatory muscles during treatment planning may be important for minimizing functional morbidity.</p>","PeriodicalId":55451,"journal":{"name":"Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention","volume":"27 10","pages":"3785-3789"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149277327","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Role of Long Non-Coding RNAs and MicroRNAs in Breast Cancer: Implications for Early Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Axillary Lymph Node Metastasis.","authors":"Taha Yasin Baran, Sevda Yılmaz, Buket Er Urgancı, Selda Şimşek, Yeliz Arman Karakaya, Ergün Erdem","doi":"10.31557/APJCP.2026.27.10.3777","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31557/APJCP.2026.27.10.3777","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The presence of axillary metastases is a critical factor for the diagnosis and prognosis of breast cancer. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of detecting axillary metastases using preoperative serum samples as a non-invasive alternative to tissue samples, focusing on the expression profiles of BLACAT1, miR-150, miR-503, BCL-2, and CCR-2.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study enrolled 61 patients with primary breast cancer who underwent surgical intervention without neoadjuvant treatment. Serum expression levels of the target molecules were analyzed by RT-qPCR and compared between patients with benign and malignant sentinel lymph nodes (SLN), as well as across different molecular subtypes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Serum BLACAT1 expression was significantly upregulated (2.37-fold, p=0.002) in patients with malignant SLNs compared to those with benign SLNs. miR-150 and miR-503 showed a trend of downregulation in the malignant group (p=0.058 and p=0.089, respectively). In terms of molecular classification, CCR2 was significantly upregulated in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) (p=0.001), while miR-503 was significantly upregulated in HER2+ tumors (p=0.010).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Circulating BLACAT1 demonstrated significant potential as a non-invasive biomarker for the detection of axillary metastases. While miR-150 and miR-503 showed distinct differential expression patterns among molecular subtypes, their diagnostic value for axillary metastasis requires validation in larger cohorts. These findings suggest that serum-based molecular profiling could support standard histopathological methods in breast cancer management.</p>","PeriodicalId":55451,"journal":{"name":"Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention","volume":"27 10","pages":"3777-3783"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149277228","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}