Epigenetic Modifications in Cervical Cancer Progression: Diagnostics and Therapeutic Potential

Yusha Ibn Umar  Farooq Khawaja; Muhammad Aziz; Naveed Iqbal; Habibah Nadeem; Sumrah Maqbool; Imran Saeed

doi:10.70749/ijbr.v3i5.1472

Authors

Yusha Ibn Umar Farooq Khawaja Lahore Grammar School, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
Muhammad Aziz Institute of Biochemistry, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3533-6749
Naveed Iqbal Oral Surgery & Medicine, Al Uwayqilah General Hospital, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia.
Habibah Nadeem CMH Lahore Medical College and Institute of Dentistry, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
Sumrah Maqbool School of Biochemistry, Minhaj University, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
Imran Saeed School of Biochemistry, Minhaj University, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70749/ijbr.v3i5.1472

Keywords:

Cervical Cancer, Epigenetic Modifications, DNA Methylation, Histone Modification, miR-21, HOTAIR, Tumor Stage, Biomarkers, Prognosis, Quantitative Research

Abstract

We conducted this study to understand the size of the problem, how key epigenetic changes relate to clinical factors and their usefulness in predicting outcomes in cervical cancer patients. The study included 120 women who had cervical cancer and were being treated in hospital oncology and gynecology departments. DNA methylation, histone modification H3K27me3, miR-21 levels and lncRNA HOTAIR expression were all studied in this research using descriptive, chi-square and regression methods. A large number of these alterations were found in the patients studied, as DNA methylation was seen in 70.8%, histone modification in 65.0%, overexpression of miR-21 in 75.0% and elevated HOTAIR genes in the case of 60.0% of patients. Results from chi-square tests confirmed that each of these markers was significantly connected to how far the tumor advanced (p < 0.05). In addition, regression analysis identified these markers as reliable predictors of advanced tumor stages. The results are consistent with what other studies have said about epigenetics in cancer development and therapy resistance. It recommends that clinicians use epigenetic profiling to better follow patient disease progression and that future studies examine the modifications of these markers to improve personalized care for cervical cancer patients.

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