Molybdenum Deficiency among Esophageal Cancer Patients

Emerging evidence suggests that deficiencies in trace elements, particularly molybdenum, may contribute to Esophageal Cancer (EC) pathogenesis. Molybdenum is an essential micronutrient that plays a key role in detoxifying carcinogenic compounds through its involvement in enzymatic pathways, including xanthine oxidase activity. This study aims to evaluate serum molybdenum levels in patients with histologically confirmed EC and compare them to healthy controls to assess the association between molybdenum deficiency and EC incidence.

This prospective, single-center observational study was conducted at a regional cancer center in Srinagar, Kashmir, India from June 2021 to June 2023. Patients with histologically confirmed EC were included as the study group, while age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers served as controls. Serum molybdenum levels were measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometry.

A total of 400 participants were enrolled. The study group had a mean age of 62.1 ± 12.61 years, with 58.5% males. The mean serum molybdenum level in esophageal cancer patients was significantly lower than that of the control group (0.79 ± 0.452 vs 2.33 ± 0.707, p < 0.001). The gender-based comparison showed that males in the study group had a significantly lower mean serum molybdenum level than male controls (p <0.001), with a similar trend observed in females.

Molybdenum deficiency may be associated with an increased risk of EC by impairing carcinogen detoxification. Further research is needed to explore its preventive and therapeutic potential.