Serum Levels of Il-12 and Il-23 in Breast Cancer Patients Infected with Toxoplasma gondii : A Case-Control Study

The possible risk factor of toxoplasma infection and its possible correla-tion with interleukin-12 (il-12) and interleukin-23 (il-23) in breast cancer patients was investigated. methods: overall, 190 female patients referred to the oncology teaching hospital in the medical city hospital, baghdad, iraq were enrolled from 2017-2018. all serum samples were tested for t. gondii immunoglobulins (igg and igm )antibodies and il-12, il-23 levels. results: in patients with breast cancer, the results revealed a high positivity percentage for anti- toxoplasma igg. in breast cancer patients infected with t. gondii, the il-12 level was lower than the controls while the mean level of il-23 was higher than the controls. according to the cancer grade in breast cancer patients infected with t. gondii, the higher mean titer of igg and il-23 was in grade 3 in contrast the highest mean titer of il-12 was in grade 1. concerning the tumor stages in breast cancer patients infected with t. gondii, the higher mean titer of igg, il-12 and il-23 was in stage (iii). according to the tumor size in breast cancer patients infected with t. gondii, the high-est mean titer of igg, il-12 and il-23 was in size >3cm. conclusion: the levels of il-23 could be a candidate as a non-invasive primitive marker for earlier prediction of breast cancer stage.