The content of chemical elements-antioxidants in the tissues of benign and malignant tumors

Background. Copper, zinc, manganese, and selenium play the role of cofactors in the enzymatic link of the antioxidant system and can be singled out as a special group of antioxidant elements. Reorganizations of the antioxidant system during carcinogenesis are reflected in the levels of these bioelements.

Aim. Analysis of the antioxidant element concentrations in benign and malignant tumor tissues and assessment of the possibility of their use as markers of neoplasms.

Material and methods. Using the methods of atomic emission and mass spectrometry with inductively coupled argon plasma, the concentrations of Cu, Zn, Mn and Se were measured in the tissues of benign and malignant neoplasms (surgical material) of 131 residents of Magadan. The objects of the study were benign neoplasia of the intestine, breast and ovary, as well as malignant neoplasia of the intestine, breast, uterus and lung. The Shapiro–Wilk test, the Mann–Whitney U test, and correlation analysis were used. Changes were considered significant at p <0.05.

Results. In a benign process, all antioxidant elements, in a malignant process, Cu and Zn turned out to be differentiating. The maximum levels of Cu, Zn, Mn and Se were recorded in benign and malignant tumors of the intestine (2.09 and 2.57; 62.99 and 22.22; 0.35 and 0.29; 0.33 and 0.30 µg/g, respectively), minimal — in benign and malignant breast tumors (0.58 and 0.88; 8.74 and 10.41; 0.08 and 0.19; 0.11 and 0.21 µg/g). The value of the Cu/Zn ratio corresponded to the range of 0.074–0.111 and significantly prevailed in cancer (p <0.05). Significant correlations (p <0.037) were recorded only in tumors of the intestine and breast and differed in multidirectional dynamics. Their number decreased in bowel cancer and increased in breast cancer.

Conclusion. Malignant neoplasms are distinguished by a higher level of antioxidant elements and atypism of the microelement profile.