Reports Outline Breast Cancer Study Findings from Sana'a University [Impact of khat (Catha edulis) and oral contraceptive use on telomerase levels and tumor suppressor genes p53 and p21 in normal subjects and breast cancer patients].

A study conducted at Sana'a University in Yemen examined the effects of oral contraceptive (OC) use and khat chewing on telomerase levels and tumor suppressor genes in breast cancer patients and normal volunteers. The study involved 140 Yemeni women aged 25-40, including 60 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients and 80 control subjects. The results showed that breast cancer patients had significantly higher levels of telomerase, p53, and p21 compared to the control group. The use of OCs increased telomerase in the control group but had no effect in breast cancer patients, while khat chewing increased p53 in both groups and p21 in breast cancer patients. The combined use of OCs and khat chewing increased telomerase and p53 in the control group and increased p53 and p21 in breast cancer patients. Telomerase was identified as a risk factor for breast cancer, while khat chewing was found to be protective. The study suggests that the combined use of OCs and khat chewing reduces the risk factor of telomerase. [Extracted from the article]