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Published on: April 28, 2023
Determining urinary trace elements (Cu, Zn, Pb, As, and Se) in patients with bladder cancer
Chang-Ni Lin1, Lai-Hao Wang, Kun-Hung Shen
1Department of Biotechnology, Chia-Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan, Taiwan.
Objectives:
Trace elements are essential components of biological structures, but they can be toxic at concentrations beyond those necessary for their biological functions.
Methods:
A study group of 30 patients with bladder cancer and a control group of 30 healthy volunteers were measured for trace elements using a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer.
Results:
Urinary zinc and selenium levels in patients were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those in controls, but urinary copper, arsenic, and lead were not significantly different.
Conclusion:
This case-control study suggests that zinc and selenium concentrations are associated with the proliferation of bladder cancer cells because zinc and selenium are excreted in the urine of bladder cancer patients.
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