Smoking Effects on Serum Hepcidin Levels in Breast Cancer Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Breast cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality among women worldwide. Hepcidin, a central regulator of iron metabolism, has emerged as a potential biomarker in cancer biology and a predictive agent of recurrence. As smoking represents a risk factor in developing many types of cancer, this article discusses the possibility of the effect of smoking on hepcidin levels in women diagnosed with breast cancer. Aim: To investigate the effect of smoking on hepcidin levels in breast cancer patients, and to assess the association with recurrence rate. Materials and methods: The present cross sectional study comprises of 39 breast cancer patients across Stages (I, II, III), who were newly diagnosed and histologically confirmed. Serum Hepcidin levels were measured using ELISA before ongoing with any type of treatment. Patients were categorized based on smoking status. The chi-square test was used to evaluate the associations between smoking and hepcidin levels with recurrence. Results: The sample concluded 39 women who were diagnosed with breast cancer. 23 patients were smoker with (58.97%). No statistically significant association was found between smoking status and serum hepcidin levels (p value = 0.43). Similarly, smoking status was not significantly associated with cancer relapse (P value = 0.15). Conclusion: Smoking may not significantly impacts hepcidin regulation or the risk of recurrence in breast cancer patients.