Recent updates on analysis of alteration of Zn level in cancer patients

Abstract

Zn micronutrient is involved in many physiological processes that include enzyme activity, genomic stability, DNA repairing, apoptosis, immunity, neurological function, response to oxidative stress, and cell signaling. The deficiency of trace element Zn may be responsible for the mutation of DNA, tumor genesis, and carcinoma cell production. The Zn level has been found to decrease in cancer patients as compared to the healthy controls. Various cancer such as breast, ovarian, prostate, lung, Ewing, endometrial, brain, and bladder cancer have been correlated with Zinc deficiency. The polymorphism may be correlated with the ZINC deficiency in several cancer patients. The polymorphism has been observed in MT2A, Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, MMP-2, MMP-7, and MMP-13 genes significantly change in the Zn levels in the serum of prostate cancer patients. The genotypes GSTM1 and GSTT1 significantly change the concentration of zinc concentration in lung cancer patients. The presence of polymorphism rs1805502 in the GRIN2B gene within the brain is associated with a notably reduced concentration of zinc in the serum. The results of these studies associated with deficiency of zinc in the body may cause DNA damage, mutation in DNA, and tumor growth. This review article provides a detailed description of the deficiency of the Zn element in cancer patients and polymorphisms in genes encoding zinc-dependent proteins associated with different cancers.