The excisional rings of the T cell receptor rearrangement (TREC) and the κ-deletion element (KREC) are extrachromosomal DNA structures formed during V(D)J-recombination. A decrease in the number of TREC and KREC below age-related values may be a manifestation of immunodeficiency conditions, which can be caused by oncological and hematological diseases.
Objective: To study the change in the amount of TREC and KREC in breast cancer. Methods. For the study, blood was taken from patients with malignant neoplasms in the main group and group of healthy women of various ages. Of these 35 healthy individuals and 77 patients with breast cancer. Median age 54 years (Q1-Q3: 36-81 years). Quantification of TREC and KREC was performed by real-time PCR using the IMMUNO-BIT reagent kit (ABV-test LLC) in accordance with the instructions for the kit. DNA extraction from whole blood was performed using the AmpliPrime RIBO-prep reagent kit (NextBio LLC).
According to our study, in healthy individuals, the TREC level is 75.6/105 PBMC (Q1-Q3: 19.2-135.3), the KREC level is 317.3/105 (Q1-Q3: 118.1-565.9). Whereas in patients with breast cancer, the level of TREC is 4.4/105 PBMC (Q1-Q3: 0.9-17.3), the level of KREC is 101.3/105 (Q1-Q3: 29.3-339.28). When comparing the TREC and KREC indicators in different groups, statistically significant differences were established (p<0.001, p=0.006). The levels of TREC and KREC in the healthy population were significantly higher than among patients with cancer (median TREC were 75.6 and 4.4, median KREC 317.3 and 101.3, respectively).
The data obtained demonstrate significant changes in T- and B-cell lymphopoiesis in patients with breast cancer. Quantitative determination of TREC and KREC makes it possible to assess the state of the T- and B-cell link of the immune system in patients with malignant neoplasms.
The authors.
Has not received any funding.
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.