Aluminium and human breast diseases

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Biochemistry
• Oncology

Background:

• Human breast tissue contains aluminium from various sources, including antiperspirants.
• Aluminium levels vary within breast tissue and between individuals.
• Previous studies indicate aluminium presence in breast tissue and fat.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate aluminium levels in nipple aspirate fluids (NAFs) from breast cancer patients versus healthy controls.
• To compare aluminium concentrations in breast cyst fluids with serum and milk.
• To explore potential biomarkers of aluminium's biological impact in the breast.

Main Methods:

• Noninvasive collection of NAFs for aluminium level measurement.
• Analysis of aluminium in breast cyst fluids, serum, and milk.
• In vivo measurement of iron homeostasis proteins (ferritin, transferrin) alongside aluminium in NAFs.
• In vitro study of MCF-7 cells exposed to aluminium chlorhydrate to assess S100 calcium binding protein mRNA expression.

Main Results:

• NAFs from breast cancer patients showed significantly higher aluminium levels (268 ± 28 μg/l) compared to healthy subjects (131 ± 10 μg/l).
• Type I human breast cyst fluids had higher aluminium levels (median 150 μg/l) than human serum (median 6 μg/l) or milk (median 25 μg/l).
• Raised levels of ferritin and transferrin were observed in NAFs with higher aluminium.
• Long-term in vitro exposure to aluminium chlorhydrate led to overexpression of S100 calcium binding proteins in MCF-7 cells.

Conclusions:

• Aluminium is elevated in the breast microenvironment of cancer patients.
• Higher aluminium in breast cyst fluids suggests a potential role in benign breast disease.
• Ferritin, transferrin, and S100 calcium binding proteins may serve as biomarkers for aluminium's biological effects in the breast.
• Further investigation is warranted to determine the biological impact and health implications of aluminium exposure in the human breast.