title: Determination of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in neoplastic kidneys and in renal tissue of fetuses, newborns and corpses.
abstract: The incidence of kidney tumors in USA and Europe (in particular, Central Europe and Italy) has been dramatically increasing since the 1970s, possibly as a consequence of ongoing environmental pollution. Environmental factors have been considered responsible for at least 80% of the incidence of neoplastic diseases. To shed some light on this issue, the amounts of Cd and Pb were measured in neoplastic tissue and adjacent normal part of kidney excised for carcinoma and compared with those in renal tissues of fetuses, newborns and subjects that died of non-neoplastic diseases. Cd and Pb were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry and Atomic Absorption Spectrometry with Electrothermal Atomization. Metallothionein immunoperoxidase staining technique was used to localize the accumulation of Cd and Zn in the nephrons. Content of Cd and Pb in kidneys of fetuses and newborns was extremely low. However, it was significantly increased in adjacent-normal tissues of kidneys with carcinomas, and significantly higher compared to kidneys of individuals that died of non-neoplastic diseases. In tumoral tissues of the excised kidneys, Cd content was very low, while that of Pb significantly elevated. High amounts of Cd and Pb in the adjacent-normal parts of kidneys with carcinomas are suggestive of possible, individual or synergistic, effects of these pollutants on enzymatic systems, priming an oncogenic pathway. Detection of metallothioneins, primary ligands of Cd, exclusively in the cells of proximal tubuli, i.e. wherein renal carcinoma develops in over 80% of cases, strongly supports the assumption that Cd exerts a carcinogenic effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, La Sapienza University, P.le A.Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy. urol.2@uniroma1.it
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cerulli
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Campanella
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grossi
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Politi
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scandurra
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Soda
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Soda
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: Silvio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Damiani
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alimonti
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alimonti
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Petrucci
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caroli
mesh_terms: D002102:Cadaver; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis*; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis*; D005333:Fetus / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007668:Kidney / Q000737:chemistry*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis*; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead; D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc