Association between oxidative stress and changes of trace elements in patients with breast cancer

Objectives: To investigate the association between oxidative stress and cer tain trace elements in the blood of breast cancer patients. Design and methods: Malondialdehyde (MDA) was measured in serum of patients with breast cancer (n = 35) and controls (n = 35) by high performance liqu id chromatography. Trace elements were determined by atomic absorption spec trophotometry. Results: In the present study, significantly increased lipid peroxidation, measured as MDA, was demonstrated in the serum of breast cancer patients (p < 0.01). The concentrations of zinc and iron remained unaltered. However, the mean serum copper level in patients with breast cancer was significantl y higher than the control group (p < 0.01). In addition, the mean serum sel enium level in patients with stage III was significantly lower than the con trol group (p < 0.05). Moreover, a positive correlation was also observed b etween copper and MDA levels in the patient group but not in the control gr oup. Conclusion: In the present study, the presence of an association between ox idative stress and trace elements was observed in patients with breast canc er. We suggest that increased oxidative stress in patients with breast canc er may result from changes in the levels of certain trace elements. Copyrig ht (C) 1999 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists.