title: Analysis of serum levels of 15 trace elements in breast cancer patients in Shandong, China.
abstract: Experimental and epidemiological studies suggest that serum levels of trace elements may be associated with breast cancer risk. We compared serum levels of 15 trace elements between breast cancer patients and normal controls from Shandong, China, for the first time to assess whether serum levels of trace elements were associated with breast cancer risk. Eighty-eight breast cancer patients and 84 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. A Spectraspan V direct current plasma atomic emission spectrometer was used to determine the serum levels of 15 trace elements including Zn, Mn, Al, Cd, Fe, Mg, Ca, Pb, Cu, Se, Ni, Ti, Co, Li, and Cr. Breast cancer patients had significantly higher serum levels of Cd (p = 0.000), Mg (p = 0.001), Cu (p = 0.000), Co (p = 0.006), and Li (p = 0.003) and borderline higher Cr (p = 0.052), while significantly lower Mn (p = 0.000), Al (p = 0.000), Fe (p = 0.000), and Ti (p = 0.000) compared to their matched controls. However, there were no significant differences in serum levels of Zn (p = 0.824), Ca (p = 0.711), Pb (p = 0.274), Se (p = 0.236), and Ni (p = 0.185) between the two groups. Our study showed a possible association between serum levels of trace elements and breast cancer risk in eastern China, though it warrants further investigations to confirm the association. If confirmed, modulation of trace elements may help reduce breast cancer risk.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Center, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, China.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Haiyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jing
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.forename: Xingwen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Junqing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Luhua
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008670:Metals / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D014131:Trace Elements