Plasma Concentrations of Some Trace Element and Heavy Metals in Patients with Metastatic Colon Cancer

Abstract

Purpose: It is well known that trace elements and heavy metals play a significant role in human health and disease. These elements play an important role in different metabolic pathways of cells and tissues. Trace element deficiency or excess is implicated in the development or progression of some cancers. We present a study which investigates serum/ plasma levels of trace-heavy elements in metastatic colon cancer patients and healthy subjects. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 29 healthy subjects and 40 patients with metastatic colon cancer in Oncology Department of Medical School of Yuzuncu Yil University. In both groups, the serum levels of copper (Cu), magnesium (Mg), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn) selenium (Se), manganese (Mn), and cadmium (Cd) were determined. Results: Higher levels of Cu, Mg, Pb, Cr, Zn, Mn and Cd were seen in patients with metastatic colon cancer compared to healthy subjects and these findings were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Se levels were noted to be lower in patients with colon cancer in comparison to healthy subjects and this finding was also statistically significant (p < 0.05). Conclusions: According to our findings there was significant diffence in trace elements and heavy metals levels between healthy subjects and metastatic colon cancer patients. Therefore heavy metal and trace elements may have prognostic significance in complex disorders including colon cancer. However, further comprehensive studies are needed in order to advance our understanding of the relationship between heavy metal and trace elements and their role in cancers.

Examination of preoperative and postoperative levels of rare earth elements (Zn, Cu, Mg, Pb, Mn, Cd, Co and Fe in the blood of ovarian cancer patients

“…It was presented by a study in Turkey that Pb level in renal cell carcinoma increased significantly compared to healthy people [16]. A literature on colon cancer found out that Pb level was higher than those of healthy people [10]. In this study, Pb level in ovarian cancer patients was found higher in the preoperative group compared to control group but lower than those of postoperative group and statistically significant.…”

“…The fact that Zn and Cu levels were found low in the same patient group was associated to low enzyme activity. In a study on colon cancer in the literature, Zn level was found higher compared to those of healthy people [10]. A research discovered that Zn level in lung cancer patients was significantly lower than those of healthy control group [8].…”

“…A research on colon cancer discovered that Mg level was higher than those of healthy people [10]. Mg level in lung cancer patients was found significantly lower than those of healthy control group in a study [8].…”

“…This study found out that Zn level in ovarian cancer patients was found higher in preoperative group compared to those of control and postoperative group; but there was no statistically significance (p=0.160). In a study, Cu level in colon cancer patients was found significantly higher compared to those of healthy control group [10]. A research on lung cancer discovered that Cu level was lower than those of healthy people [8].…”

“…These elements join the various structural and functional activities of organism and get involved especially in different enzyme systems and hence they play important roles for occurrence of living phenomena and survival [7]. It has been discovered by the studies on different types of cancer within literature that the levels of Zn, Mn, Cu, Mg and Fe sometimes increase and decrease [8,9,10,11]. There are a Doi: 10.17546/msd.01241 140 considerably limited number of researches regarding rare-earth elements on ovarian cancer.…”