Evaluation of XRCC2 Expression in Breast Cancer

Abstract

Breast cancer (BC) is a leading cause of mortality among women worldwide. The X-ray repair cross-complementing group 2 (XRCC2) gene is implicated in DNA repair processes, and its role in BC remains controversial. This study aimed to analyze XRCC2 mRNA expression in BC tissues compared to normal breast tissues to elucidate its potential role in BC pathogenesis. An observational analytical study with a case-control design was conducted at Zheen International Hospital, Erbil, Iraq, from 2021 to 2024. The study included 44 adult women diagnosed with BC, and XRCC2 mRNA levels were measured using real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). RNA was extracted, converted to cDNA, and analyzed by qRT-PCR. The XRCC2 mRNA expression levels were normalized using GAPDH and statistically analyzed using the 2−ΔCt method. The study found a significant upregulation of XRCC2 expression in BC tissues compared with normal controls (p<0.05), especially in patients aged 40-55 years and those > 56 years (p=0.0392 and p=0.0191, respectively), and in higher BC grades II and III (p=0.0013 and p=0.0051, respectively). Invasive ductal carcinoma exhibited a notable increase in XRCC2 expression (p=0.0006). In conclusion, the increased XRCC2 mRNA expression in BC tissues suggests a possible oncogenic role of XRCC2 in BC development. The correlation between age and cancer grade indicates its potential as a marker for BC progression.