Role of Heavy Metals (Lead and Cadmium) in Malignant Breast Tumors

Abstract

Heavy metals as environmental pollutants have been recognized to have a role in the induction of malignant human growths. Recently, certain heavy metals have shown a close association with breast cancers. The objective of this study was to assess the concentration of lead and cadmium in malignant breast tumors and the normal breast tissue of the same individual. Lead and Cadmium concentration was determined in the breast tissue samples of 30 malignant breast tumor patients. Two samples of breast tissue from each patient, i.e. diseased tissue and normal tissue (from the same breast of the same patient) were taken during the lumpectomy or mastectomy procedure, for analysis by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The present study showed a highly significant increase in Lead (11.8 ± 2.6) (P < 0.001) and Cadmium (6.5 ± 1.9) (P < 0.001) concentrations in malignant breast tumor tissues as compared to their corresponding normal tissues (Lead 4.4 ± 2.7 and Cadmium 1.9 ± 1.1). We concluded that Lead and Cadmium have a significant role in the causation of malignant breast tumors and can be a potent diagnostic marker of the disease process. Keywords: Lead, Cadmium, Malignant Breast Tumor, Atomic absorption spectrophotometer. INTRODUCTIONBreast diseases are very common all over the world; especially malignant breast tumors are common in the western world. Breast cancer ranks second to all cancers in the American women and incidence of female breast cancer has risen world wide in the recent decade.1,2 In India, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in many regions and has overtaken cervix cancer.3 Presently the percentage of breast cancer among the male population has risen above 2 % of all cancers.