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Related Experiment Videos

Elevated trace element concentrations in malignant breast tissues

K H Ng1, D A Bradley, L M Looi

  • 1Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison 53706, USA.

The British Journal of Radiology
|April 1, 1997
PubMed
Summary

Neutron activation analysis revealed significantly higher levels of elements like Al, Br, and Ca in malignant breast tissue compared to normal tissue. This elemental difference may aid in distinguishing cancerous from non-cancerous breast tissues.

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Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Biochemistry
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Microcalcifications in breast tissue are common, but their precise chemical environment and relationship to malignancy are not fully understood.
  • Distinguishing between malignant and normal breast tissue is crucial for effective diagnosis and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the elemental composition of malignant and adjacent normal human breast tissues.
  • To explore the chemical environment associated with microcalcification formation in breast tissue.
  • To develop a potential method for discriminating malignant from normal breast tissue based on elemental profiles.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro neutron activation analysis (NAA) was employed.
  • Analysis was conducted on malignant and adjacent normal tissue samples from 46 human female breast tumors.

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  • Statistical analysis, including Wilcoxon signed-ranks test and Spearman rank correlation, was used to assess elemental differences and correlations.

    • Main Results:

    • Significant elevations (p < 0.001) of Al, Br, Ca, Cl, Cs, Fe, K, Mn, Na, and Zn were observed in malignant breast tissues compared to normal tissues.
    • Cobalt (Co) also showed a significant increase (p < 0.003) in cancer tissues.
    • A strong positive correlation (0.80) was found between Rubidium (Rb) and Zinc (Zn) concentrations in tumor tissues.

    Conclusions:

    • The study suggests a distinct elemental composition in malignant breast tissues, potentially linked to increased cellular activity, blood supply, and microcalcification formation.
    • Elevated elemental concentrations and microcalcifications in breast tissue may be associated.
    • The findings support the potential of elemental analysis as a method for breast cancer discrimination.