Synchrotron radiation-induced total-reflection X-ray fluorescence analysis of Cu and Zn in carcinoma tissues obtained by a biopsy

The Cu and Zn levels in human bladder carcinoma and non-carcinoma tissues obtained by a biopsy were successfully analyzed by a total-reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) analysis using monochromatic X-rays (11 keV) of synchrotron radiation. The analysis was made by a calibration-curve method combined with a standard addition technique. An analysis of the biopsy samples (minimum 1 mg) from 6 carcinoma patients indicates that the Cu level falls in 210 μg/g and that the Zn level is in the range of 3270 μg/g. It is found that the Cu level in carcinoma tissues was significantly smaller than that of the non-carcinoma one, whereas no clear tendency was observed for the Zn level. The present study has demonstrated that a TXRF analysis of biopsy samples allows us to reveal the dynamical behavior of trace elements in carcinoma tissues, such as the time-dependent level of trace elements at different progress stages of carcinoma and the correlation among various trace elements.