Objective To explore the diagnostic value of the combined detection of serum allograft inflammatory factor-1 (AIF-1), growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF15), and doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1) in breast cancer.

Methods A total of 114 female breast cancer patients (breast cancer group) and 114 female volunteers (control group) who underwent physical examination were selected. Enzyme-Linked immunosorbent assay was applied to detect serum levels of AIF-1, GDF15, and DCLK1. Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors affecting breast cancer. ROC curve was used to analyze the diagnostic value of serum AIF-1, GDF15, DCLK1 levels in breast cancer.

Results The serum levels of AIF-1, GDF15, and DCLK1 in the breast cancer group were obviously higher than those of the control group (P<0.05). The expression levels of serum AIF-1, GDF15, and DCLK1 were significantly elevated in breast cancer patients with stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ, moderate and poor differentiation, lymph-node metastasis, and Ki-67 positive (P<0.05). Serum AIF-1, GDF15, and DCLK1 were risk factors for breast cancer, and the areas under the curve (AUC) for single and combined diagnosis of breast cancer for all three were 0.834, 0.753, 0.861, and 0.930, respectively. Additionally, the combined diagnosis AUC values were significantly higher than those assessed alone (Z_{combination-AIF-1}=3.479, Z_{combination-GDF15}=5.147, and Z_{combination-DCLK1}=3.121; all P<0.05).

Conclusion In breast cancer patients, the serum AIF-1, GDF15, and DCLK1 levels increase. They are risk factors for breast cancer, and the combined diagnosis of the three is more effective.