Abstract 1327: Analysis of metal content and distribution in profiling normal and tumor tissues from three human carcinomas

Studies have shown that elemental/metal homeostasis is very essential to the development of the cancer phenotype in many cancers including lung and liver carcinomas. The balance in the composition of trace elements/metals was recognized to be essential to normal homeostasis. Low Zn levels were implicated in the development of prostate as well as other cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate the differential relationship of metal concentrations and profiles in cancer and normal tissues of humans. It is hypothesized that essential elements/metal concentrations and profiles will show significant differences between cancer and normal tissues as well as between different tissue types in human tissue material. The study will establish critical element/metal profiles that provide correlations with the development of three major carcinomas. Normal human and tumor tissues of lung, breast and liver tissues used in this study were obtained from US Biomax Company. Tissue samples were prepared using standardized digestion procedure and the ICP-AES (Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry) was used to determine the concentrations and profiles of 21 elements including Ag, Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Sr, Tl, V, and Zn. Results showed that nine major elements of Al, Ba, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Na, and Zn were found to be significantly different in term of their concentration profiles in normal and tumor tissues of human lung, breast and liver. It is concluded that metal/elemental homeostasis is essential for normal tissue function and that shifts in elemental distribution and content are tissue specific as well as carcinoma specific. These results are promising and warrant further studies to exploit the possibility of manipulating elemental content and distribution as a cancer therapeutic modality. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1327. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-1327