Comparative Evaluation of Trace Metal Distribution and Correlation in Human Malignant and Benign Breast Tissues

• Published in: Biological trace element research 2008-10, Vol.125 (1), p.30-40
• Main Authors: Pasha, Qaisara, Malik, Salman A., Iqbal, Javed, Shaheen, Nazia, Shah, Munir H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - chemistry; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Cadmium; Cluster Analysis; Correlation analysis; Environmental Pollutants - adverse effects; Female; Humans; Lead; Life Sciences; Mammary Glands, Human - chemistry; Metal concentrations; Middle Aged; Nutrition; Oncology; Principal Component Analysis; Principal components analysis; Spectral analysis; Statistics, Nonparametric; Tissues; Trace elements; Trace Elements - analysis; Trace metals
• ISSN: 0163-4984; 1559-0720
• DOI: 10.1007/s12011-008-8158-z

Selected trace metals were analyzed in human malignant and nonmalignant (benign) breast tissue samples by the flame atomic absorption spectrophotometric method. In malignant tissues, dominant mean concentrations were revealed by Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, and Al at 927, 552, 231, 61.7, 36.5, 18.3, and 8.94 μg/g, respectively, while the mean metal levels in benign tissues were 903, 435, 183, 63.3, 24.7, 14.5, and 10.1 μg/g, respectively. Average concentrations of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, K, Ca, and Zn were noted to be significantly higher in the malignant tissues compared with the benign tissues. Significantly strong correlations ( r  > 0.50) in malignant tissues were observed between Mn and Co, Mn and Cd, Cd and Cr, Fe and Mn, Cd and Co, Fe and Co, Mg and Pb, Cd and Fe, Mg and Ni, Pb and Ni, Ni and Sr, and Fe and Pb, whereas, Cd and Co, Cd and Mn, Co and Mg, Co and Mn, Cu and Mn, Co and Ni, Mg and Ni, Cd and Cu, Cd and Ni, Ca and Mg, Mn and Pb, Cu and Ni, Fe and Ni, Cd and Mg, Co and Cu, Cr and Na, and Cd and Cr revealed strong and significant relationships in benign tissues at p