Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 8, 2026

CUBIC Protocol Visualizes Protein Expression at Single Cell Resolution in Whole Mount Skin Preparations
Published on: August 4, 2016
Elemental changes in skin from patients with basal cell carcinoma
P Wallberg1, M Lindberg, E Alsterborg
1Karolinska Institute, Department of Dermatology, Söder Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Basal cell carcinoma skin tumors show higher levels of magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium compared to normal skin. These elemental differences may influence cancer cell growth.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Dermatology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Intracellular ionic shifts are linked to cell proliferation.
- Understanding elemental composition in skin tumors is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the elemental composition of basal cell carcinoma.
- To compare elemental content between cancerous and healthy skin cells.
Main Methods:
- X-ray microanalysis of skin biopsies from 10 basal cell carcinoma patients.
- Comparison of elemental content in cancer cells versus adjacent non-affected skin cells.
Main Results:
- Basal cell carcinoma cells exhibited significantly higher magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium levels (p < 0.05).
- Sodium, chlorine, calcium, and sulfur levels were similar in both cancerous and healthy cells.
Conclusions:
- Basal cell carcinoma possesses a distinct elemental composition.
- Elevated magnesium and potassium may stimulate basal cell carcinoma growth, unlike other cancers.
More Related Videos
09:37Combining Reflectance Confocal Microscopy with Optical Coherence Tomography for Noninvasive Diagnosis of Skin Cancers via Image Acquisition
Published on: August 18, 2022
04:11A Video Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial - Electrochemotherapy of Cutaneous Metastases with Reduced Dose Bleomycin (BLESS Trial)
Published on: June 9, 2026
Related Concept Videos
Renewal of Skin Epidermal Stem Cells
Clinical Applications of Epidermal Stem Cells
Cells of the Epidermis
The cells in all these layers except the stratum basale are called keratinocytes, a type of cell that manufactures and stores the protein keratin. The keratinocytes in the stratum corneum are dead and regularly slough away, being replaced by cells from...
Pigmentation
Melanin occurs in two primary forms: eumelanin that provides black and brown pigment and pheomelanin that provides red color. Dark-skinned individuals produce more melanin than those with pale...
Changes in Skin Color: Clinical Perspectives
Albinism
Albinism is a genetic disorder that affects (completely or partially) the coloring of skin, hair, and eyes. The defect is primarily...
Skin Cancer
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): BCC is the most common type of skin cancer, accounting for about 80% of cases. It typically develops in...