Serum paraoxonase and arylesterase can be useful markers to predict neoadjuvant chemotherapy requirement in patients with breast cancer.

AIM

The aims of this study are to evaluate the serum levels of paraoxonase (PON) and arylesterase (ARE) in breast cancer (BC) patients; to determine their relationship with chemotherapy requirements in BC; and to find a cut-off value to assess subjects with a higher risk of BC.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

A total of 40 BC patients and 33 age-matched healthy women were included in this study. Beside other biochemical parameters, participants' serum PON and ARE levels were determined and analyzed.

RESULTS

Serum PON and ARE levels were found decreased in sera of the patients (96.44 ± 21 and 159.75 ± 15.75 U/L, respectively)compared to controls (158.39 ± 23.04 and 239.33 ± 32.98 U/L, respectively) (P = 0.001 for both). Subgroup analysis of the BC patients revealed that both serum PON and ARE levels were lower in patients who needed neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), compared to those who did not (P = 0.024 and 0.02, respectively). We determined a cut-off value of PON according to the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis as 131.2 U/L (sensitivity 97.5% and specificity 93.9%).

CONCLUSION

BC patients have lower serum PON and ARE levels than healthy controls. Also, serum ARE levels (but not PON) were negatively correlated with body mass index in BC patients. Both serum PON and ARE levels were lower in patients who needed NAC than in patients who did not need such therapy.