Gene–virus interaction between IFN-γ rs2069705 polymorphism and Epstein–Barr virus in breast cancer susceptibility among Egyptian women

Aims This study investigated the association between Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection and breast cancer (BC) susceptibility and evaluated the role of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) rs2069705 polymorphism in disease risk and clinicopathological characteristics among Egyptian women.Materials and methods A case–control study was conducted on 96 histologically confirmed BC patients and 50 age-matched healthy controls. EBV serostatus was assessed by ELISA detection of anti-viral capsid antigen IgG antibodies. IFN-γ rs2069705 (A/G) genotyping was performed using TaqMan real-time PCR assays.Results EBV seropositivity was significantly higher in BC patients (93.75%) than controls (p = 0.008). Significant associations were observed between IFN-γ rs2069705 polymorphism and BC susceptibility, particularly for AA and AG genotypes and A and G alleles (p < 0.001), whereas the GG genotype showed no significant association. AA and AG genotypes were also associated with unfavorable clinicopathological features.Conclusion EBV infection and IFN-γ rs2069705 polymorphism may contribute to BC susceptibility and progression among Egyptian women and could serve as potential combined biomarkers for risk assessment and prognosis.