title: Metals distribution in colorectal biopsies: New insight on the elemental fingerprint of tumour tissue.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Some studies have linked colorectal cancer to metal exposure.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our objective was to evaluate the element distribution in colorectal adenocarcinoma biopsies, adjacent non-tumour tissues, and healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study is a case-control study which compared the element distribution in colon biopsies from two groups of patients: with colorectal cancer (2 types of samples: colorectal cancer biopsies and adjacent non-tumour tissues) and healthy controls. Fifteen metal concentrations (Aluminium, Boron, Cadmium, Chromium, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Nickel, Lead, Selenium, Silicon, Titanium, Vanadium, and Zinc) were quantified by using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  104 patients were included: 76 in the colorectal cancer group, 28 in the healthy control group. Among the 15 elements analyzed, only boron, chromium, zinc, silicon and magnesium were found at clearly detectable concentrations. Colorectal tumour biopsies had significantly higher concentrations of magnesium as compared to adjacent non-tumour or healthy tissues. Zinc concentration followed the same trend but differences were not statistically significant. In addition, concentration of silicon was higher in colorectal cancer tissue than in healthy non-cancer tissue, while chromium was mostly found in adjacent non-tumour tissue.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Magnesium, chromium, zinc and silicon were found in noteworthy concentrations in colorectal tumour. Their potential role in colorectal carcinogenesis should be explored.
authors: University of Lyon, F-42023 Saint-Etienne, France; Jean Monnet University, EA 4624 - LINA, SFR FED 4166 - IFRESIS, France; University Hospital CHU Saint-Etienne, France. Electronic address: leslie.rinaldi@gmail.com.
authors: Leslie
authors: L
authors: Rinaldi
authors: University of Lyon, F-42023 Saint-Etienne, France; Jean Monnet University, EA 4624 - LINA, SFR FED 4166 - IFRESIS, France; University Hospital CHU Saint-Etienne, France.
authors: Gabriele
authors: G
authors: Barabino
authors: University of Lyon, F-42023 Saint-Etienne, France; Jean Monnet University, EA 4624 - LINA, SFR FED 4166 - IFRESIS, France; University Hospital CHU Saint-Etienne, France.
authors: Jean-Philippe
authors: JP
authors: Klein
authors: University of Lyon, F-42023 Saint-Etienne, France; Jean Monnet University, EA 4624 - LINA, SFR FED 4166 - IFRESIS, France.
authors: Dimitrios
authors: D
authors: Bitounis
authors: Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines, CIS-EMSE, EA 4624 - LINA, SFR FED 4166 - IFRESIS, Saint-Etienne, France.
authors: Jérémie
authors: J
authors: Pourchez
authors: Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines, CIS-EMSE, EA 4624 - LINA, SFR FED 4166 - IFRESIS, Saint-Etienne, France.
authors: Valérie
authors: V
authors: Forest
authors: University of Lyon, F-42023 Saint-Etienne, France; Jean Monnet University, EA 4624 - LINA, SFR FED 4166 - IFRESIS, France; University Hospital CHU Saint-Etienne, France.
authors: Delphine
authors: D
authors: Boudard
authors: Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines, CIS-EMSE, EA 4624 - LINA, SFR FED 4166 - IFRESIS, Saint-Etienne, France.
authors: Lara
authors: L
authors: Leclerc
authors: Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines, CIS-EMSE, EA 4624 - LINA, SFR FED 4166 - IFRESIS, Saint-Etienne, France.
authors: Gwendoline
authors: G
authors: Sarry
authors: University Hospital CHU Saint-Etienne, France.
authors: Xavier
authors: X
authors: Roblin
authors: University of Lyon, F-42023 Saint-Etienne, France; Jean Monnet University, EA 4624 - LINA, SFR FED 4166 - IFRESIS, France; University Hospital CHU Saint-Etienne, France.
authors: Michèle
authors: M
authors: Cottier
authors: University of Lyon, F-42023 Saint-Etienne, France; Jean Monnet University, EA 4624 - LINA, SFR FED 4166 - IFRESIS, France; University Hospital CHU Saint-Etienne, France.
authors: Jean-Marc
authors: JM
authors: Phelip
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003106:Colon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012007:Rectum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic
chemical_list: D008670:Metals
keywords: Colorectal cancer; Elemental analysis; Environmental risk; Magnesium