Breast Cancer Biomarkers for Risk Assessment, Screening, Detection, Diagnosis, and Prognosis

Intersectionality Between Epigenetics and Cancer Health Disparities Stemming from Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) Through a Gynecologic Oncology Lens: A Narrative Review

“…10,11 EPIGENETICS -NON-CODING RNA EXPRESSION Noncoding RNAs (ncRNA) are a critical component of the DNA transcription process; they regulate chromatin, complexes of DNA and protein, and gene expression. 12 ncRNAs are divided into 2 distinct groups of small, under 200 nucleotides, and large, greater than 200 nucleotides. 12 Micro-RNAs (miRNAs) are a part of the small ncRNA family and specifically regulate post-transcription gene expression.…”

“…12 ncRNAs are divided into 2 distinct groups of small, under 200 nucleotides, and large, greater than 200 nucleotides. 12 Micro-RNAs (miRNAs) are a part of the small ncRNA family and specifically regulate post-transcription gene expression. 13 Misexpression of miRNAs is believed to be an attributable factor to the respective upregulation and downregulation of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes.…”

“…23 In cervical cancer cells, miRNA-145 epigenetic regulation was affected by exposure to stress hormones. 12 The research on miRNA-145 is of interest as it potentially illuminates the interplay of hormones on miRNA expression. Cortisol was associated with resistance to chemotherapy and downregulated expression of miRNA-145 in HPV-positive cervical cancer cells.…”

“…Cortisol was associated with resistance to chemotherapy and downregulated expression of miRNA-145 in HPV-positive cervical cancer cells. 12 This association is of particular interest given that chronic stress results in increased cortisol levels, and segments of the population experiencing stress are more apt to be disproportionately impacted by health disparities linked to increased cortisol expression. 23 In addition, estradiol changes appear to have a direct impact on levels of copper and zinc, while estrogen and progesterone influence blood indicators of copper levels.…”