SMALL EXTRACELLULAR VESICLES AND SURVIVIN AS DIAGNOSTIC AND PROGNOSTIC MARKER FOR BREAST CANCER: A PILOT STUDY

1. Abstract The impact of breast cancer on women across the world has been extensive. Liquid biopsy has the advantages of minimal invasive- ness and relies on the existence of blood unique biomarkers, which may reflect the patients disease status. In this study, we quantified serum small extracellular vesicles and survivin protein from pa- tients with BC to verify their potential as diagnostic and prognos- tic biomarkers. Blood serum samples were collected from human patients categorized as malign and benign BC, and control healthy groups. SEVs were isolated by ultracentrifugation and character- ized by nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), transmission elec- tron microscopy (TEM), and immunoblot (WB). Survivin was detected in the serum using a commercial ELISA kit. Although the concentration and size of SEVs numerically varied among exper- imental groups, there was no statistical significance.