8-OHdG and Nrf2 Protein are Expressed Consistently in Various T Stages of Invasive Breast Carcinoma

Oxidative stress prompts breast cancer cells to adapt by raising the lethal threshold and enhancing the antioxidant mechanism, thereby enabling survival and continuous proliferation that facilitates tumor progression. Nrf2 and 8-OHdG are indicative of oxidative stress activity and impact the progression of breast cancer. We aimed to analyze the expression of Nrf2 and 8-OHdG in various T stages of breast cancer in our hospital.

This observational study employed a cross-sectional design and included patients with invasive breast carcinoma of no special type diagnosis from histopathology examination who underwent modified radical mastectomy without neoadjuvant chemotherapy at Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital between January 2019 and December 2022. Medical records and paraffin blocks that met these criteria were obtained. 8-OHdG and Nrf2 were assessed using immunohistochemistry.

There was no significant difference and correlation between 8-OHdG (p=0.578) and Nrf2 (p=0.694) expression with various T stages of IBC-NST and no significant correlation between 8-OHdG/Nrf2 expression and T stage (p=0.242 and 0.625 respectively).

Consistent expression of 8-OHdG and Nrf2 in various T stages of breast cancer represents a continuation of the oxidative stress process in breast cancer that is not influenced by the tumor size. The existence of consistent oxidative stress at all tumor sizes (T stage) stimulates breast cancer cells to continue proliferating.