Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
TRACE ELEMENTS AND ELECTROLYTES, cilt.21, sa.2, ss.117-121, 2004 (SCI-Expanded)
Background and objectives: Playing a crucial role in a number of biological processes, trace elements are an essential part of the body. Up to now, trace elements-cancer relationships have not had a definitive explanation. This study was scheduled to investigate the trace element content of squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and skin. Methods: The study was designed as a prospective controlled study. Tissue concentrations of iron, selenium, copper and zinc were studied in 30 patients with squamous cell carcinoma (19 larynx and 11 skin), while 20 tissues (12 larynx and 8 neck) of non-cancerous patients served as control. All samples were taken during surgical operations. Tissue element concentrations were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer after tissues were digested in an acid mixture. Results: No meaningful differences were interpreted in copper and zinc in epidermoid cancer and non-cancerous tissues. However, iron and selenium concentrations were found to be decreased significantly in cancer tissues than in control values. Conclusion: Decreased selenium and iron concentrations in the cancerous tissue from the patients with epidermoid cancer may result in increased oxidative stress because of the requirements of these elements for activities of some antioxidant enzymes.