Metal concentrations in hair of patients with various head and neck cancers as a diagnostic aid

Abstract

Head and neck cancers are one of the most frequent cancers worldwide. This paper attempts to evaluate disturbances of homeostasis of the necessary elements (calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper, iron, manganese) and changes in the levels of toxic metals (lead, cadmium, cobalt, chromium VI) in hair of patients with head and neck cancers, as well as people without a diagnosed neoplastic disease. In order to quantify the necessary elements and toxic metals, a method using ICP-MS and ICP-OES techniques had been developed and validated. The studies have shown that patients with head and neck cancer used to drink alcohol and smoked much more frequently than healthy individuals, both in the past and presently. Statistically significant differences in concentrations of average metal content in the group of patients with head and neck cancers compared to the control group were confirmed. Significant differences in metal content between the group of patients with head and neck cancers and healthy individuals were found which enabled distinguishing between the study groups. To this end, a more advanced statistical tool, i.e. chemometrics, was used. The conducted research analyses and the use of advanced statistical techniques confirm the benefits of using alternative material to distinguish the patients with head and neck cancers from the healthy individuals.

Molecular and health effects in the upper respiratory tract associated with tobacco smoking other than cigarettes

“…It has been reported that mean blood levels of chromium and nickel (55.15 and 111.60 μg/l) among patients with HNSCC were significantly higher than those of controls (37.04 and 30.50 μg/l, respectively). Higher concentrations of these metals were, among others, caused by tobacco smoking or exposure to second‐hand tobacco smoke (SHS) that in consequence increased the risk of cancer …”

“…7,35 DNA lesions can also be caused by exposure to metals present in tobacco smoke. 36,37 Among more than 30 metals found in tobacco smoke seven were classified by IARC as carcinogenic. Five of them are proven human carcinogens.…”

“…Higher concentrations of these metals were, among others, caused by tobacco smoking or exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke (SHS) that in consequence increased the risk of cancer. [36][37][38] Besides carcinogenic activity tobacco smoking is connected with addiction. The compound responsible for this is nicotine, a main tobacco alkaloid.…”

Content of magnesium and zinc in hair: systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Występujące zaburzenia w gospodarce tymi pierwiastkami mogą skutkować nieprawidłowym funkcjonowaniem komórek i prowadzić do stanu chorobowego. Jony cynku i magnezu wchodzą w skład enzymów antyoksydacyjnych, stanowiących naturalną barierę w rozwoju nowotworów [5,7,8,9,10]. Niskie stężenie tychże pierwiastków może również wiązać się ze zwiększoną insulinoopornością i przewlekłymi stanami zapalnymi [5,4,11].…”

“…Analiza zawartości Zn i Mg we krwi nie oddaje w pełni ich rzeczywistego stężenia w organizmie ze względu na okresowe wahania [9,10,14]. Pomiar przeprowadzony na paznokciach lub włosach dobrze odwzorowuje przeciętną zawartość tych pierwiastków w organizmie ze względu na długi czas związany z ich przyrostem.…”