Unravelling the role of PRKCI and key-cancer related genes in breast cancer development and metastasis.

Background: Breast cancer is one of the most common causes of fatalities in females globally. Rising cases of drug resistance against existing chemotherapeutics are great problem. To address this issue, there is a need to find appropriate biomarker that could be used to detect cancer at early stages, so drug resistance development can be avoided. Protein Kinase C iota (PKCɩ), an AGC kinase, has an oncogenic role in cancers and its expression and Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been reported to be associated with the cancer development. So, the study aims were to examine the expression of PKCɩ, Protein Kinase B (AKT), Suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3), Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Krupple like factor 3 (KLF3), Tumor protein D52 (TPD52), Hypoxia inducible factor (HIF1α) and microRNA-124 (miR-124) in breast cancer and association of PKCɩ variants (G34W & F66Y) with breast cancer.

Methods: Genetic expression assay was performed through real time Polymerase Chain reaction (PCR), whereas the genotypic association of PKCɩ SNPs with breast cancer was accomplished through Tetra-ARMS PCR.

Results: The expression levels of PKCɩ, AKT, SOC3, VEGF, HIF1α and TPD52 were elevated in patients as compared to control whereas the expression levels of miR-124 and KLF3 were lowered in patients. Positive association of variant G34W (TT) of PKCɩ with breast cancer has been explored through ARM's PCR, while no association of variant F66Y with breast cancer was found.

Conclusion: Hence, the results suggest that PKCɩ and related genes can have a role in breast cancer and after further verification can serve as the potential biomarkers for the early-diagnosis and prognosis of breast cancer.