Possible Role of Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1 (YKL-40) Polymorphism as Diagnostic Biomarker of Breast Cancer in Egyptian Female Patients

Background: YKL-40 is an extracelluar matrix glycoprotein with sequence homology to the proteins of the chitinase family, but lacking chitinase activity. It is highly expressed in several types of cancer, including breast cancer. Aim of the Work: Our aim is to investigate the association between Chitinase-3-Like Proteinl (YKL-40) gene polymorphism and the risk of breast cancer among Egyptian female patients and to compare the results with fibroadenoma patients and normal females. Subjects and Methods: 113 female patients were enrolled in the present study; 20 patients with fibroadenoma, 73 nonmetastatic and 20 metastatic breast cancer patients. Twenty healthy females were also included and served as control. DNA extraction was done followed by real time PCR to detect the chitinase 3-like I (rs4950928) polymorphism. Results: There was statistical significant difference between breast cancer and control groups regarding promoter SNP (-131C→G) in CHI3L1 genotype GC (p=0.04) and between fibroadenoma and breast cancer groups also regarding genotype GC (p=0.042). Conclusion: Chitinase-3-Like Proteinl polymorphism may be useful as a potential biomarker in breast carcinoma.