Evaluation of HDL-C and Gene Expression of HER2 in Male and Female Breast Cancer and Risk Individual for Breast Cancer Development

Background: High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) has been suggested to be associated with breast cancer. However, the roles of HDL-C on breast cancer still have been controversial. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the difference in the level of (HDL-C) and gene expression of HER2 in the risk group compared with breast cancer patients and control. Materials and Methods: This study included 90 participants (female = 60 and male = 30) with an age range of 20–70 years. The participants are divided into three main groups: 40 risk group (individuals at increased risk for developing breast cancer), 25 breast cancer group, and 25 control (healthy group). A Zybio EXC 200 Biochemistry Analyzer measures the concentration of HDL-C for the risk group, breast cancer group, and control using standard enzymatic methods. Lipids were analyzed in one designated laboratory during December 2022 in the control and breast cancer group and January 2023 in the risk group (case study). HER2 gene expression was estimated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. This study was conducted during the period from the first of September 2022 to the end of February 2023 at Babylon Oncology Center and Imam Al-Sadiq (Peace Be Upon Him) Educational Hospital in Babylon governorate, and National Hospital for Oncology and Hematology in Najaf governorate, Iraq. Results: Estimation of serum HDL-C concentration (mg/dL) reveals that the risk group showed a strong significant increase in serum HDL concentration ( P < 0.0001; mean = 83.78 ± 16.68 mg/dL) that is more than the control (mean = 59.66 ± 8.120 mg/dL) and breast cancer group (mean = 44.70 ± 14.01 mg/dL). Also, it showed a significant decrease ( P < 0.0001) in serum HDL concentration of the breast cancer group less than the control group. Our results demonstrate overexpression of HER2 in the risk group, whereas downexpression in the breast cancer group. Conclusion: HDL-C elevation and HER2 overexpression may be indicators for breast cancer development in the individual at increased risk for developing breast cancer who do not have diagnosis yet, and could be predictive biomarkers. In contrast, downexpression of HER2 and low HDL concentration (HDL-C < 70 mg/dL) in breast cancer patients indicate cancer progression and metastasis.