eng Oriental Scientific Publishing Company Biomedical and Pharmacology Journal 0974-6242 2026-03-20 19 1 178 190 10.13005/bpj/3346 71113 article Rania Kadhim 1 Emad Yousif 1 Suhad Ibrahim 1 Muna Bufaroosha 2 Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq Department of Chemistry, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide after lung cancer, making early diagnosis and continuous treatment crucial. This study evaluated Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) enzyme levels and other biochemical parameters in post-operative chemotherapy in Iraqi women diagnosed with breast cancer. This study highlights the potential use of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as s biomarker for monitoring treatment response, rather than being limited to its traditional diagnostic role. In this investigation, a total of 150 serum samples were analyzed.   To assess the prognostic value of LDH along with other biochemical markers including ALP, ALT, AST, electrolytes (Na⁺, K⁺, Cl⁻), kidney functions (urea, creatinine), and prolactin hormone. A cross-sectional study was conducted on a total of 150 serum samples collected from 100 female patients diagnosed with breast cancer (after surgery and during chemotherapy) and 50 age-matched healthy women as a control group, aged between 25–60 years. All biochemical parameters (LDH, ALP, ALT, AST, Na⁺, K⁺, Cl⁻, urea, creatinine, and prolactin) were measured in the laboratory using standard automated biochemical analyzers and commercially available diagnostic kits. LDH activity was significantly elevated in breast cancer patients, highlighting its potential as an early prognostic marker for disease progression or recurrence. Renal function tests (urea and creatinine) and liver enzymes (ALT and AST) were significantly higher in patients compared to controls (p < 0.05). Electrolytes, specifically K⁺ and Cl⁻, were elevated (p < 0.05), while Na⁺ showed no significant difference (p > 0.05). ALP levels were not significantly different between patients and controls (p > 0.05). Prolactin hormone levels were also significantly higher in patients (p < 0.05). These findings underscore LDH as the central prognostic marker, with other biochemical parameters providing supportive information on patient status.  Furthermore, the results indicate that LDH activity in breast cancer patients was markedly higher than that observed in healthy controls, which may be attributed to increased cellular proliferation and metabolic activity in cancer cells. Cancer cells rely heavily on aerobic glycolysis to meet their energy demands, and LDH plays a critical role in this metabolic pathway. Elevated LDH levels may therefore serve as an early prognostic biomarker for metastasis or disease recurrence and may also be useful for monitoring disease progression and therapeutic response during chemotherapy. https://biomedpharmajournal.org/vol19no1/lactate-dehydrogenase-and-biochemical-markers-as-indicators-of-treatment-response-in-breast-cancer/ Breast Cancer Chemotherapy Monitoring Electrolyte Imbalanc Lactate Dehydrogenase Liver Enzymes Prognostic Biomarker Prolactin Hormone Renal Function