THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SERUM HEPCIDIN LEVELS AND SMOKING IN BREAST CANCER PATIENTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Zein Al-Abideen Douba* and Rama Ibrahim

ABSTRACT

Background: Breast cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality among women worldwide. Hepcidin, a central regulator of iron metabolism, has emerged as a potential biomarker in cancer biology. Objectives: This study aims to investigate the relationship between serum hepcidin levels and smoking status in breast cancer patients, and to assess the association between smoking and cancer relapse. Materials and Methods: Serum samples were collected from 39 breast cancer patients across Stages 1, 2, and 3. Hepcidin levels were measured using ELISA. Patients were categorized based on smoking status. The chi-square test was used to evaluate the associations between smoking, hepcidin levels, and relapse. Results: No significant association was found between smoking status and serum hepcidin levels (P = 0.43). Similarly, smoking status was not significantly associated with cancer relapse (P = 0.15).

Keywords: Hepcidin, Breast cancer, Relapse, Smoking, Oncology.