Determining urinary trace elements (Cu, Zn, Pb, As, and Se) in patients with bladder cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Trace elements are essential components of biological structures, but they can be toxic at concentrations beyond those necessary for their biological functions.


METHODS
A study group of 30 patients with bladder cancer and a control group of 30 healthy volunteers were measured for trace elements using a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer.


RESULTS
Urinary zinc and selenium levels in patients were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those in controls, but urinary copper, arsenic, and lead were not significantly different.


CONCLUSIONS
This case-control study suggests that zinc and selenium concentrations are associated with the proliferation of bladder cancer cells because zinc and selenium are excreted in the urine of bladder cancer patients.
Lin
Chang-Ni
CN
Department of Biotechnology, Chia-Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan, Taiwan.
Wang
Lai-Hao
LH
Shen
Kun-Hung
KH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001151:Arsenic / Q000652:urine; D003300:Copper / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012643:Selenium / Q000652:urine; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013624:Taiwan; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000652:urine*; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000652:urine*; D015032:Zinc / Q000652:urine
D014131:Trace Elements; D007854:Lead; D003300:Copper; D012643:Selenium; D015032:Zinc; D001151:Arsenic