Variation in the Distribution of Trace Elements in Renal Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

The development of cancer is a complex, multistage process during which a normal cell undergoes genetic changes that result in phenotypic alterations and in the acquisition of the ability to invade other sites. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy was used to estimate the contents of Al, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, Pb, and Zn in healthy kidney and renal cell carcinoma (RCC), and significant differences were found for all elements. Along with the progression of the malignant disease, a progressive decrease of Cd and K was observed. In fact, for Cd, the concentration in stage T4 was 263.9 times lower than in stage T1, and for K, the concentration in stage T4 was 1.73 times lower than in stage T1. Progressive accumulation was detected for P, Pb, and Zn in stage T4. For P, the concentration in stage T4 was 11.1 times higher than in stage T1; for Pb, the concentration in stage T4 was 232.7 times higher than in T1; and for Zn, the concentration in T4 was 8.452 times higher than in T1. This study highlights the marked differences in the concentrations of selected trace metals in different malignant tumor stages. These findings indicate that some trace metals may play important roles in the pathogenesis of RCC.

Comparative proteomical and metalloproteomical analyses of human plasma from patients with laryngeal cancer

“…Cr has a long history of industrial use, such as welding and plating and is accepted as a mutagenic agent [46], being the respiratory tract the primary target organ once inhalation is the main route of entry into the body [47]. Its exposure causes gene mutations, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and neoplastic transformation [14]. Epidemiological and experimental evidences show that occupational exposure to Cr is associated with lung cancer [47,48].…”

“…The identification by proteomic techniques of antigens involved in tumor immunity can provide insights into the reaction of the host to the tumor [12]. Furthermore, determining the concentrations of trace elements in samples of healthy and cancer patients may help the understanding of the etiology, diagnosis and prognostic of different cancers [14].…”

The Concentration of Vanadium in Pathologically Altered Human Kidneys

“…The main aim of the above-mentioned studies was to determine the effects of selected metals on the process of carcinogenesis and changes, in the proportions and relationships between nephrotoxic and essential elements present in kidneys. It is believed that the kidneys of patients with cancer acculumate less Cd and more Pb [ 15 – 17 ]. Accordingly, to the vanadium, its concentration in pathologically altered kidneys versus healthy kidneys is controversial.…”

Cadmium and Lead Decrease Cell–Cell Aggregation and Increase Migration and Invasion in Renca Mouse Renal Cell Carcinoma Cells

“…A recent meta-analysis suggests that cadmium exposure is a risk factor for renal cancer [12]. With regards to lead and RCC, higher blood levels of lead are associated with RCC [13,14], and an accumulation of lead in higher stage RCC tissue has been observed (control <0.05 µg/g; RCC 1.74 µg/g) [15]. In a study of 33 non-smoking male patients with RCC, their blood levels of cadmium (control 0.027 µg/dl; RCC 0.091 µg/dl) and lead (control 0.02 µg/dl; RCC 0.09 µg/dl) were elevated 3.37-and 4.90-fold, respectively, compared to the control patients [16].…”