title: To study the significance of apoptotic enzyme granzyme H in breast cancer patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer and the most common cause of cancer-related mortality among women worldwide. The rising global incidence, morbidity and mortality from breast cancer have led to intensified efforts in search for etiological factors of the disease. Present study tried to find out the significance of apoptotic enzyme granzyme H in breast cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  It was a cross sectional study. Fifty women with pre/post menopausal status were included in the study. Their physiological characteristics including age at menarche, menopause, life style and receptor status including oestrogen, progesterone and HER 2-neu were recorded. Level of serum granzyme H was estimated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was observed that there is a variation in physiological characteristics. Level of serum granzyme was increased in patients before chemotherapy that may be decreased after treatment but not as much decreased as in normal control subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased level of granzyme H after chemotherapy may indicate the response of treatment. A direct relationship of oestrogen with granzyme H was also observed. However further study is suggested to reach a better conclusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, CMH Lahore Medical College, Pakistan. nrazvi@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Naheed Z
authors.initials: NZ
authors.lastname: Razvi
authors.forename: Rukhshan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Khurshid
authors.forename: Saeed Ahmed
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Nagra
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D053804:Granzymes / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008019:Life Style; D008572:Menarche; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D017697:Premenopause; D011379:Prognosis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D053804:Granzymes; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; C069434:GZMH protein, human