Analysis of trace elements in the hair of volunteers suffering from naso-pharyngeal cancer

Biol Trace Elem Res. 1997 Apr;57(1):19-25. doi: 10.1007/BF02803866.

Abstract

This article describes a study where the trace elements (TEs) of four groups of volunteers were analyzed. The volunteers were divided into four groups A, B, C, and D. Group A was made up of healthy subjects, group B was made up of volunteers who had just been diagnosed as having naso-pharyngeal cancer (NPC), group C was made up of volunteers who had been diagnosed as having NPC after 3 mo of treatment, and group D was made up of volunteers who had been diagnosed as having NPC after 6 mo of treatment. In all groups, 11 trace elements in hair were analyzed. Our study shows that the concentrations of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and cobalt (Co) in group B are less than that of group A, whereas the concentration of titanium (Ti) in group B is higher. Our results also show that the difference in the level of TEs between group A and the other groups is dramatically decreased as the time of the treatment is increased. This may be a reflection of successful treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Absorption
  • Arsenic / analysis
  • Arsenic / metabolism
  • Chromium / analysis
  • Chromium / metabolism
  • Cobalt / analysis
  • Cobalt / metabolism
  • Copper / analysis
  • Copper / metabolism
  • Female
  • Hair / chemistry*
  • Hair / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Iron / analysis
  • Iron / metabolism
  • Lead / analysis
  • Lead / metabolism
  • Male
  • Manganese / analysis
  • Manganese / metabolism
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Nickel / analysis
  • Nickel / metabolism
  • Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission
  • Strontium / analysis
  • Strontium / metabolism
  • Titanium / analysis
  • Titanium / metabolism
  • Trace Elements / analysis*
  • Trace Elements / metabolism
  • Zinc / analysis
  • Zinc / metabolism

Substances

  • Trace Elements
  • Chromium
  • Lead
  • Cobalt
  • Manganese
  • Copper
  • Nickel
  • Titanium
  • Iron
  • Zinc
  • Arsenic
  • Strontium