Iraqi Journal of Cancer and Medical Genetics

Probiotics are living microorganisms that confer health benefits when administered in adequate amounts. One main way
that probiotics may help fight cancer is by changing bacteria in the gut. Some types of probiotics have been shown to stop the growth of harmful bacteria, make chemicals that stop cancer cells from spreading, and boost the production of short-chain fatty acids that fight inflammation and cell growth. Probiotics may also strengthen the intestinal epithelial barrier, stopping the movement of compounds that can cause cancer and stopping chronic inflammation, which is known to increase the risk of cancer. Probiotics can also change the way your immune system works. For example, some types can make natural killer cells, dendritic cells, and T cells work harder, which is very important for finding and killing cancer. Some probiotics have also been shown to lower oxidative stress and DNA damage. This makes it less likely that genetic changes that can cause cancer will occur. Although more research needs to be done on how probiotics can help prevent cancer, several clinical studies have shown encouraging results, especially when it comes to colorectal cancer. The burgeoning field of probiotics and cancer prevention holds potential for transforming our understanding of the role of the gut microbiome in cancer development and progression. Continued research is essential to optimize the use of probiotics as a complementary approach to cancer prevention and treatment.

Background: Cancer is a genetic disease that causes aberrant cells to grow and spread uncontrollably throughout the body, where cerebral glioblastoma is one of the brain tumors. Thyme oil has many therapeutic properties such as antioxidants and anticancer. Aim of study: Estimate sialidase enzyme in human glioblastoma cancer cell line (AMGM5) and rat embryo fibroblasts cell line (REF) in supernatant and suspension cells treated with thyme oil extract and cells without it. Methods: Sialidase activity was measured by ELISA (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) in supernatant and suspension cells of AMGM5 and REF cells treated and untreated with thyme oil extract. Results: Sialidase showed a high level in the Glioblastoma cell line ( AMGM5), while a low level in cells after exposure to diluted thyme oil (10μl/ml) after incubation for 24 hours, also showed a lower level in the Rat Embryo Fibroblast after being treated with thyme extract.
Conclusions: The sialidase enzyme showed increased in glioblastoma cells but decreased in its level in these cells after exposure to thyme oil extract, which means that thyme oil inhibited cancer cell growth.

Background: Esophageal cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer-related death in various countries around the world, and thus represents a major global health challenge. This cancer is most often found in the upper and middle parts of the esophagus but can occur anywhere along the length of the esophagus. Aim of study: Essential oils have activity that targets cancer cells and their ability to increase the effectiveness of commonly used chemotherapy, including cisplatin, as they act as antioxidants when given to a cancer patient. Methods: In this study, the volatile oil of Thymus was extracted from the dry leaves of the plant and EOT was detected by the gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GS-MS) method. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by two experiments, one to determine the effect of volatile oil on the esophageal cancer cell line (SKG-4) and to compare chemotherapy when combined with the extract. Results: Essential oil cytotoxicity in 48 hours showed a significant percentage (P < 0.05) at all diluted volumes used, while the highest toxicity (89.016%) was in the diluted volume of 2.5 μl/ml. The same results were also observed for the combination of EOT, and chemotherapy cisplatin used during the trial. A significant percentage (P < 0.05) within 72 hours was observed to show the highest cytotoxicity (70.191%) in the diluted volume of 10 μl/ml, and no difference appeared in cytotoxicity. Conclusions Through this experiment, we concluded that the extract has a toxic effect on the cancer cell line and does not affect the effectiveness of chemotherapy and that the aim of this study is to mitigate the negative effects of chemotherapy.

The current study was conducted to identify pathogenic E.coli that coexist with prostate cancer and characterize these
bacteria based on some virulence genes using molecular techniques such as RAPD-PCR. The study was carried out on 200 samples isolated from prostate cancer patients in different hospitals in Maysan Province, Iraq. These samples were cultivated on traditional and specific media agars for the identification of certain pathogenic bacteria. These bacterial organisms were subjected to PCR targeting the 16S rRNA gene for the identification of these bacteria and the genes aac2, blaoxA-1, blaTEM, oxA48 for the detection of virulence factors of isolated bacteria. The results revealed the presence of 200 bacterial isolates, which included 65 (59.09%) E. coli, 20 (18.18%) Proteus mirabilis, 12 (10.9%) P. penneri, 10 (9.09%) Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and 3 (2.72%) Klebsiella pneumonia, 16 (32%) Enterococcus faecalis, 15 (30%) Staphylococcus hemolyticus, 9 (18%) S. lentus, 3 (6%) Aerococcus viridans, , and 7 (14%) Streptococcus uberis. The findings of 16S rRNA-PCR confirmed the results of conventional tools. The virulence genes were detected in the identified bacterial species. The study findings reveal a diverse community of bacterial species present in samples isolated from patients with prostate cancer with high virulence, detected by the presence of virulence genes.

Background: Benzothiazole (BTA) is a potent organic compound with numerous biological and medicinal effects, making it a valuable tool for drug development. The purpose of the study: This study aims to produce a heterocyclic compound belonging to benzothiazoles, which are known for their great medical effectiveness, and to test their biological effectiveness against cancer cell growth. Methods: The exposure to A2 compound (1-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl) pyrazolidine-3,5-dione) was 72 hours, followed by adding 200 μL of crystal violet stain solution to each well and incubating at 37°C for 30 minutes. A molecular docking experiment was conducted using the crystallographic framework of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) to evaluate the binding strength of the compound to this receptor. The lethal dose (LD50) was determined using the Miller and Tainter method. Results: Even at a lower concentration of 6 μg/ml A2 compound appears to have greater cytotoxicity against SKG-T4 cells and AMGM5, while lower cytotoxicity to inhibition of rat embryo fibroblasts (REF) in exposure time at 72 h and has good affinity at the active site of EGFR due to the formation of hydrogen bonds with critical amino acids, in acute toxicity experiments, the LD50 of compound A2 was determined to be 52.31 mg/kg. Conclusion: The A2 compound, although present in a reduced amount, shows elevated cytotoxic effects on SKG-T4 cells and AMGM5, but shows decreased cytotoxicity toward REF cells after 72 hours. Furthermore, it shows a robust attraction to the active site of the EGFR.

Breast cancer is one of a group of diseases in which cells in the breast tissue change and divide uncontrollably, causing
these cells to clump. Invasive cancers can spread to nearby lymph nodes or other organs (metastasize). Elements are found in different forms in nature, and these elements are very necessary for the performance of the body›s various functions; Elements such as iron and zinc are essential components of enzymes where they attract or subtract molecules and facilitate their conversion to specific end products. Few elements donate or accept electrons during redox reactions. This study aimed to follow the change in the level of trace elements (TEs) and the extent to which these changes are related to the risk of breast cancer before taking chemotherapy or removing the tumor, by drawing 5 ml of venous blood from 120 women (60 patients and 60 control), the serum was separated then used to measure Zn, Cu, Fe, Mg, Cr, and whole blood (2ml) to measure Pb, Cd. In addition to studying the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) of these elements. Evaluation of trace elements revealed a significant increase in the levels of Fe, Cu, Pb, and Cd, in contrast to a significant decrease in the levels of Zn and Mg in breast cancer patients compared to a healthy control group. In the current study, it was found that the Cu/Zn ratio was significantly increased in serum from breast cancer patients (equal to 2.2) compared to controls (equal to 1.08); this result could be of great value in the diagnosis and evaluation of breast cancer patients, as well as a good indicator of impaired antioxidant defense in patients. In conclusion, ROC curves revealed that trace elements (Fe, Cu, Cd, Pb) can be used as a biomarker for the diagnosis of breast cancer, and further studies are needed to confirm the relationship between trace elements and breast cancer.

One of the key causes of cancer is the detrimental effect of reactive oxygen species on DNA repair mechanisms. The present study aims to describe the function of oxidative stress in boosting breast cancer and to point out the potential defense role of antioxidants and some trace elements. In addition, it is to estimate the concentration of C - C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation. Methods: This study was carried out at the Al-Anbar Oncology Center between January and June 2023. Sixty women with breast cancer and forty healthy women were recruited into this study. Serum antioxidant activity, such as superoxide dismutase. (SOD), Catalase (CAT), vitamin D3, vitamin B12, and some essential chemical elements such as zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and selenium (Se). CRP concentration was assessed. Results: The results reveal a significant (P<0.05) decrease in serum antioxidant concentrations such as SOD, CAT, vitamin D3, and vitamin B12 concentration in serum blood of women with breast cancer compared to the apparently healthy women group. The results showed a significant increase (p <0.05) in the CRP concentration of the blood serum of women with breast cancer compared to the healthy women group. The results showed a significant decrease (p <0.05) in the concentration of Zn, Cu and Fe in the serum blood of women with breast cancer compared to the healthy women group. Additionally, there was a significant increase (p <0.05) in Se concentration in serum blood in women with breast cancer. The percentage of breast cancer is lower in urban areas than in rural areas. Conclusions Women with breast cancer showed high levels of oxidative stress as evidenced by increased oxidant markers and decreased antioxidant markers.

Background and aim: Tonsillitis is an inflammation of the tonsils, usually caused by an infection by viruses or bacteria; recurrent tonsillitis occurs when tonsillitis occurs several times a year. The current study aimed to investigate the association of TNFα and IL1β genotypes with the increased risk of recurrent Staphylococcus aureus tonsillitis in a sample of Iraqi patients. Methods: A total of 50 blood samples were collected from patients with recurrent tonsillitis of S. auerus from three hospitals in Najaf city, and 50 samples were collected from apparently healthy volunteers with a free medical history of recurrent tonsillitis as control group. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and genotyped for TNF-α 308G/A and IL1β C/T SNP using Nested tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system PCR (T-ARMS-PCR). Results: The results of the distribution IL β –rs1143627 C/T alleles in S. aureus tonsillitis patients showed CC wild type genotype was in 11 patients (22%), CT genotype was in 30 patients (60%) and the TT genotype was in 9 patients (18 %) also C allele frequency was (0.42), whilst T allele frequency was (0.58) with Odds Ratio (1.507) at significant difference (P≤ 0.01), while prevalent of TNF-α –rs1800629 G/A alleles genotype in S. aureus tonsillitis patients revealed that GG wild type genotype was 37 patients (74%), GA genotype was 13 patients (26%) and AA genotype was 0(0%) also, G allele frequency was (0.87) and A allele frequency was (0.13) with Odds Ratio (1.507) at no significant differences in both the patient and control. Conclusion: The incidence of IL1 β -31 genotypes, whether in heterozygous (CT) or homozygous (TT) plus the existence (C) allele in S. aureus patients, could be related to the development of tonsillitis, while there is no association between the occurrence of TNF α -308 genotypes with the development of recurrent tonsillitis in this Iraqi population.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the mostly diagnosed leukemia in adults, resulting from accumulate immature blasts in
the bone marrow that are replaced instead of normal blasts that cannot function like normal blood cells. AML resulting from genetic abnormalities, including multiple gene mutations and chromosomal aberrations, are found in approximately 80% of children with AML. These shown correlations between specific recurrent chromosomal abnormalities and clinical-biological characteristics and outcomes, also, novel therapies are being developed that target some of the identified genetic defects. The aim of this study was to investigate and record the role of chromosome 5 and 8 aberrations in the development of newly diagnosed and relapsed cases of AML in Iraqi patients. Chromosomal changes were studied in peripheral blood samples from 30 Iraqi patient samples diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and divided into 9 newly diagnosed and 13 chemotherapytreated subjects who were incomplete remission and 8 relapsed subjects. The results of the chromosomal analysis of this study revealed numerical and structural abnormalities of both chromosomes: 5 and 8 in 16 (53.33%) and 12 (40%), respectively, within a complex karyotype and high frequencies in numerical abnormalities of chromosomes for chromosome 5 and structural abnormalities for chromosome 8. Chromosomal aberrations involving chromosomes 5 and 8 are linked to AML development and prognosis, and their presence in a complex karyotype can lead to disease progression and the worst prognosis, especially for abnormalities on chromosome 5, which were detected the most frequently. Future molecular genetic tests and complete karyotype analysis should enhance AML diagnosis and treatment.