Element Levels in Plasma of Cancer Patients

Abstract

This study investigated the levels and the trend of some plasma elements in cancer patients. A total number of seven hundred (700) patients with different types of cancer (leukemia, ovarian, prostate, breast, colon, cervical, uterine, ovarian) attending University Teaching Hospitals and Federal Medical Centers in Southwestern Nigeria, and three hundred (300) healthy subjects who served as control subjects were examined. The plasma levels of Zn, Fe, Ca, Mg, Mn and Cu were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry while Na and K, were analysed using flame emission photometry.The alterations observed in plasma profile of elements of the cancer patients when compared with the control may be a useful indicator in the detection of the initial changes occurring in neoplastic cells. A significant increase (p<0.05) was recorded in the plasma level of  lead and  cadmium when compared with the control and among the cancer types which suggests their involvement in the generation of reactive oxygen species which could lead to lipid peroxidation,  DNA damage and alteration in gene expression.

Keywords: cancer, elements, plasma, alteration, patients.