The Comparison of Lead and Zinc Plasma Levels in Breast Cancer Patients with Standard Values

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their life period .There are several risk factors for progress of carcinogen cell. Zinc and lead have crucial role in oxidative stress and changes in their level can enhance progress of carcinogen cells. The purpose of this study is to discover the level of zinc and lead in plasma of breast cancer patients. One hundred numbers with breast carcinoma diagnosis was confirmed by pathological samples and the results were compared with standard values and amount of these elements was observed in the blood by atomic absorption. Zinc plasma level in patients was found to be 50.59.72 (μg/dl) with p value of p=0.003 which is lower than standard value (80 μg/dl). On the other hand, the plasma lead level was identified to be 6.24.173(μg/dl) in patients and zero in the standard value. According to the observation, breast cancer patients had a higher lead level than standard value and lower zinc level. Zinc acts as an important free-radical scavenger to protect cells and deficiency of that can increases progress of carcinogen cells. Therefore, use of trace elements and also the chelators of heavy metals are necessary to prevent breast cancer in high risk individuals.