The Oxidative DNA Damage Marker 8-OHdG Indicates No Clear Association to Newly Detected Breast Cancer in Women

Year 2025, Volume: 17 Issue: 2, 1261 - 1269, 07.10.2025

Shireen Al-tameemi , Rana Hameed , Mohammed Alqanbar

Abstract

The role of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) as a biomarker in breast cancer remains controversial with conflicting results across studies. This case-control study aimed at comparing serum 8-OHdG levels between breast cancer patients and healthy controls, and examine associations with clinical characteristics. Thus, 71 Iraqi women (47 newly diagnosed, treatment-naïve breast cancer patients and 24 controls) were used from November 2024 to June 2025. Demographic data and lifestyle factors were collected through structured questionnaires. No significant difference was found in median 8-OHdG levels between breast cancer patients and controls. No correlations were observed between 8-OHdG and age, BMI, tumor grade, or hormone receptor status. Our findings suggest that 8-OHdG may not serve as a general screening biomarker for breast cancer, as its levels were comparable across all clinical and pathological parameters examined.

Keywords

8-hydroxy-2 , breast neoplasms , oxidative stress , tumor biomarkers

Ethical Statement

The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the Postgraduate Committee at the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Medical College of University of Kerbala (No.: 24-63, Date: 09-10-2024) and the Ethics Committee of the Health Directorate of Karbala (Approval No.: 3986, Date: 03-11-2024). The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and Good Clinical Practice guidelines.

Supporting Institution

University of Kerbala

Thanks

The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to all laboratory and clinical staff at Al-Hussain Teaching Hospital, the Cancer’s Early Diagnosis Unit in Karbala, and the Imam Hussain Oncology and Hematology Center in Karbala for their valuable assistance and support throughout this study.

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