Dalia E. Rodríguez-Torres, División de Medicina Molecular, Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Occidente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Guadalajara, Jalisco
Anilu M. Saucedo-Sariñana, Departamento Académico de Aparatos y Sistemas I, Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara, Zapopan, Jalisco, México
Alejandra Palacios-Ramírez, Servicio de Ginecología Oncológica, Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad Hospital de Ginecología y Obstetricia, Centro Médico Nacional de Occidente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México
Miriam Y. Godínez-Rodríguez, División de Medicina Molecular, Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Occidente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México
Efraín Salas-González, Servicio de Oncología Médica, Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad Hospital de Ginecología y Obstetricia, Centro Médico Nacional de Occidente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México
Aldo A. Alcaraz-Wong, Servicio de Patología, Hospital de Especialidades, Centro Medico Nacional de Occidente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México
José E. García-Ortiz, División de Genética, Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Occidente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Guadalajara. Jalisco, México
Mónica A. Rosales-Reynoso, División de Medicina Molecular, Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Occidente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Guadalajara, Jalisco
Background: The usefulness of circulating free DNA (cfDNA), nuclear DNA (nDNA) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) as potential biomarkers in cancer remains controversial. Objective: To determine the concentration of cfDNA and plasma nDNA and mtDNA levels in breast cancer (BC) patients. Material and methods: This study included a total of 86 women (69 patients with BC and 17 women as a control group). The cfDNA was determined using fluorometry, and the levels of mtDNA and nDNA were quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Results: The concentration of cfDNA was higher in patients with BC compared to the control group (p = 0.001). A higher concentration of cfDNA was also associated with patients over 50 years old (p = 0.001). The level of nDNA was higher in patients with CM compared to the control group (p = 0.004). Levels of mtDNA did not show significant differences (p > 0.005). The concentration of cfDNA and nDNA showed significant discriminatory power (AUC = 0.968, CI = 0.93-1.00, p = 0.001; and AUC = 0.724, CI = 0.59-0.85, p = 0.004, respectively. Conclusions: The concentration of cfDNA and the combination of cfDNA and nDNA are useful biomarkers for diagnosing patients with BC.
Keywords: Mitochondrial DNA. Nuclear DNA. Diagnostic biomarker. Breast cancer. Diagnosis.