EC Gynaecology

Cervical cancer is one of the most common malignancies in women, particularly in its advanced and metastatic stages. Despite advancements in diagnosis and treatment, it remains a leading cause of mortality among affected patients. One of the key factors contributing to the progression and metastasis of this disease is genetic alterations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Mitochondria, as the powerhouses of the cell, play a crucial role in regulating biological processes, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, energy metabolism, and programmed cell death (apoptosis). This study investigates the association of mitochondrial mutations in the MT-ND1, MT-ND5, and MT-CYB genes with cervical cancer.

For this purpose, 100 cervical cancer patients (50 with metastasis and 50 without metastasis) and 100 healthy individuals as a control group were selected. Blood and tumor tissue samples were collected, and mitochondrial DNA was extracted. Advanced molecular techniques such as next-generation sequencing (NGS) and PCR-RFLP were employed to identify and analyze mutations in these genes.

The results showed that mutations in MT-ND1 and MT-CYB genes were significantly associated with tumor metastasis and progression in cervical cancer (p < 0.05), while MT-ND5 mutations had no significant correlation with disease progression or metastasis (p > 0.05). Moreover, patients with specific mitochondrial mutations in MT-ND1 and MT-CYB genes exhibited a poorer response to chemotherapy, indicating a potential role of these mutations in drug resistance. These findings suggest that mitochondrial mutations can serve as valuable biomarkers for predicting metastasis and assessing treatment response in cervical cancer patients.

 Keywords: Cervical Cancer; Mitochondrial DNA; Metastasis; Genetic Mutations; Chemotherapy; Electron Transport Chain; Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS)

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