Granzyme H Serum Levels Variations with Both Reproductive Hormone Receptors, and Related Hormone Receptors in Breast Cancer Patients

BACKGROUND Breast Cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in Iranian women, meanwhile the Iranian patients are relatively young. Granzyme H (GZMH) is a functional cytotoxic serine protease of NK cell granules, which expands the cell death-inducing repertoire of innate immune system. GZMH is constitutively and highly expressed in human NK cells, in order to possess chymotrypsin-like (chymase) enzymatic activity. The purpose of this study was to determine GZMH level, in BC and healthy women. METHODS 30 breast cancer patients, and 30 control women in premenopausal status, have participated in this study. GZMH, Estrogen levels, and ER, PR have been measured in cancer and healthy women subsequently, as using ELISA, Radioimmunoassay, and Immunohistochemistry methods. RESULTS Mean GZMH value was lower in BC than healthy women (p<0.0001). CONCLUSION Our study has implicated existence of suppressor or problem for producing of GZMH in patients group and levels of estrogen couldn't effect on making positive ER, PR.