Relationship between trace elements and breast tumor

Objective:To study the relationship between the levels of trace elements and breast tumor.Methods:Serum,cancer tissue,normal tissue levels of 5 trace elements were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) in 100 healthy female volunteers,91 patients with benign breast diseases(fibroadenoma,cystic disease)and 86 patients with malignant breast tumor before and after operation.Results:Analysis showed that in malignant tissue and serum of patients with breast cancer Cu and Fe were significantly higher and( P 0.05) Zn, Mg,Ca were significantly lower than that in normal subjects and patients with benign breast tumor( P 0.05).Conclusion:Our results indicate that Cu and Fe may serve as a risk factor while Zn, Mg and Ca are protective factors of breast cancer.