RNA Expression of Cytochrome P450 and its Clinical Impact in Breast Cancer Patients

Objectives: The expression pattern of cytochrome P450 genes (CYPs) affected by tumorigenesis may have an important role in the progression of cancer and in the metabolism of anticancer drugs. The aim of the present study was to determine the mRNA expression pattern of two cytochrome P450 genes (CYP3A4, and CYP3A5) in breast cancer patients. Methods: Tumor samples were collected from 38 patients recently diagnosed with breast cancer along with corresponding non-malignant tissues. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to quantify the levels of gene expression in all the samples. The association between CYPs expression and clinico-pathological parameters was also analyzed. Results: In the present study, our results showed that CYP3A5 gene expression was not significantly associated with breast cancer (p=0.14). Significant differences in CYP3A4 mRNA expression were observed between tumor tissue and the corresponding normal tissue (p<0.003). There was no statistical difference between CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 expression and clinical and pathological features. Conclusion: CYP3A4 expression has a potential role as a breast cancer prognosis marker. We conclude that increased expression levels of the examined CYP3A4 may promote breast cancer progression and also may associate with resistance to drug treatment by inactivation of anticancer drugs. Moreover, one potential therapeutic approach may be to block CYP3A4 function.