title: Concentration of cadmium, nickel and aluminium in female breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni) and aluminium (Al) concentrations in female breast cancer and normal tissue.
  
  
  METHODS
  The concentration of metals in 16 non-cancerous breast tissues and 67 breast cancer samples was measured by flame atomic absorption spectrometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the case of normal breast tissue the concentrations were 0.61 ± 0.24 μg Cd/g dry tissue, 1.84 ± 0.67 μg Ni/g dry tissue, and 3.63 ± 1.00 μg Al/g dry tissue, whereas in breast cancer concentrations of metals were 0.76 ± 0.38 μg/g dry tissue, 2.26 ± 0.79 μg/g dry tissue, and 4.40 ± 1.82 μg/g dry tissue, respectively. The concentration of Cd and Al in normal breast tissue was significantly lower than in breast cancer. In the case of Ni concentration, we did not observe statistically significant differences between normal and cancerous tissue. There were no significant differences in concentration of studied metals, in breast cancer, in the context of age, menopausal status, and cancer histological grading.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data obtained show higher concentration of cadmium and aluminium and support a possible relationship between those metals and breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Research Institute of Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital, Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Romanowicz-Makowska
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Forma
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bryś
authors.forename: Wanda M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Krajewska
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Smolarz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017607:Aluminum Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D001940:Breast / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D019187:Cadmium Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009532:Nickel / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D017607:Aluminum Compounds; D019187:Cadmium Compounds; D009532:Nickel