Abstract
Heavy metals as environmental pollutants have been recognized to have a role in induction of malignant human growths. Recently, certain heavy metals showed a close association to breast cancer. This research was conducted to find out the role of some toxic heavy metals (cadmium, iron, copper, lead and zinc) in induction of breast cancer in-vivo. The study was carried out on 100 female patients: 75 with breast cancer (cancerous group) and 25 with benign breast diseases (non-cancerous group). Patients were chosen from those attending to the Oncology Center, Mansoura University. Heavy metals concentrations were measured in the urine and breast tissue samples using inductive coupled plasma (ICP) - spectrometer. The present results showed a significant increase in urine and tissue cadmium concentrations and urine copper concentration in cancerous patients compared to their corresponding non-cancerous ones (p < 0.05). Also, there was a significant reduction in iron concentration in urine samples of cancerous group compared to their corresponding non-cancerous one (p < 0.05). On the other hand, lead had no significant difference between cancerous and non cancerous groups but it was generally high in the tissue samples while zinc had no significant difference between studied groups. It could be concluded that the present study posits a causal association between cadmium and copper increase with reduction of iron and breast cancer.
Highlights
Heavy metals carcinogenesis is a process driven by their reaction with critical molecules in body cells to cause cancer [1]
Lead has no significant difference between cancerous and non cancerous group but it is generally high in the tissue samples while zinc has no significant difference between studied groups (Table 2)
The concentrations of six heavy metals were estimated in the urine and tissue samples of patients with breast cancer; based on previous studies that possessed a close association between heavy metals and development of breast cancer
Summary
Heavy metals carcinogenesis is a process driven by their reaction with critical molecules in body cells to cause cancer [1]. In the past 25 years, certain heavy metals as cadmium, nickel, arsenic, beryllium and chromium VI have been recognized as human or animal carcinogens as declared by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the National Toxicology Program (NTP) [3]. Industrial applications, drug formulation, food additives, manufacturing of semiconductors, mining, smelting, refining metal ores, cement-manufacturing plants, electroplating facilities, gasoline and diesel vehicles and particles resulting from tire wear lead to release of the different heavy metals in the environment [3]. Hassanien [6] assessed human health risk estimates in residents from different regions in Cairo, Egypt. He concluded that, the current levels of copper, chromium, cadmium, lead, manganese, vanadium, arsenic, nickel, antimony and titanium were higher than those considered safe for the general population
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
