nNav1.5 mRNA Expression in Triple Negative and Non-Triple Negative Breast Cancer Patients Treated at Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia

Ahmad Sukri, Ahmad Firdaus; Suhaimi, Nuramira Syazreen; Mohd Adzemi, Elis Rosliza; Mohd Azlan, Mawaddah; Yahya, Maya Mazwin; Wan Abdul Rahman, Wan Faiziah; Mokhtar, Noor Fatmawati

doi:10.31557/APJCP.2025.26.11.4061

nNav1.5 mRNA Expression in Triple Negative and Non-Triple Negative Breast Cancer Patients Treated at Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

¹ Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.

² Breast Cancer Awareness & Research Unit (BestARi), Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kampus Kesihatan, 16150, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia.

10.31557/APJCP.2025.26.11.4061

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the expression of nNav1.5 mRNA and its association with clinicopathological features in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and non-TNBC patients treated at Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia (HPUSM), Kelantan. Methods: Tumor tissue samples were collected from TNBC (n = 43) and non-TNBC (n = 19) patients. Real-time PCR was performed to measure nNav1.5 mRNA expression levels. Clinicopathological parameters assessed included tumor size, histological grade, cancer stage, hormone receptor status, HER2 expression, and lymph node involvement. Sanger sequencing was carried out to verify the identity of the amplified nNav1.5 transcripts. Results: nNav1.5 mRNA expression was significantly higher in TNBC compared to non-TNBC tumors (p = 0.007). Sanger sequencing confirmed >99% sequence identity with the canonical human nNav1.5 transcript. Elevated nNav1.5 expression was significantly associated with TNBC subtype (p = 0.007), advanced tumor stage (p = 0.007), and distant lymph node metastasis (p = 0.002). Conclusion: High expression of nNav1.5 mRNA in breast tumors is significantly associated with the TNBC subtype and aggressive clinical features.

Keywords