The Comparison of Lead and Zinc Plasma Levels in Breast Cancer Patients with Standard Values

Abstract

Purpose: Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among women. Onein eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their life period. There are several risk factors for the progress of carcinogen cells. Zinc and lead have crucial roles in oxidative stress and any changes in their level can enhance the progress of carcinogen cells. The purpose of this study is to discover the level of zinc and lead in the plasma of breast cancer patients.
Methods: One hundred breast carcinoma diagnoses was confirmed by pathological samples and the results were compared with standard values. The amount of these elements was observed in the blood by an atomic absorption.
Result- Zinc plasma level in patients was found to be 50.59+4.72 (μg/dl) with the p value of p=0.003 which is lower than the standard value (80 μg/dl). On the other hand, the plasma lead level was identified to be 6.24+1.173(μg/dl) in patients and zero in the standard value.
Conclusion: According to the observation, breast cancer patients had a higher lead level than the standard value and a lower zinc level. Zinc acts as an important free-radical scavenger to protect cells and a deficiency of that can increase the progress of carcinogen cells. Therefore, the use of trace elements and also the chelators of heavy metals are necessary to prevent breast cancer in high risk individuals.