Element Levels in Plasma of Cancer Patients

This study investigated the levels and the trend of some plasma elements in cancer patients. A total number of seven hundred (700) patients with different types of cancer (leukemia, ovarian, prostate, breast, colon, cervical, uterine, ovarian) attending University Teaching Hospitals and Federal Medical Centers in Southwestern Nigeria, and three hundred (300) healthy subjects who served as control subjects were examined. The plasma levels of Zn, Fe, Ca, Mg, Mn and Cu were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry while Na and K, were analysed using flame emission photometry.The alterations observed in plasma profile of elements of the cancer patients when compared with the control may be a useful indicator in the detection of the initial changes occurring in neoplastic cells. A significant increase (p<0.05) was recorded in the plasma level of  lead and  cadmium when compared with the control and among the cancer types which suggests their involvement in the generation of reactive oxygen species which could lead to lipid peroxidation,  DNA damage and alteration in gene expression. Keywords: cancer, elements, plasma, alteration, patients

STATUS OF PLASMA ELECTROLYTES, UREA, CREATININE, AND C-REACTIVE PROTEIN IN CANCER PATIENTS.

 Objective: Cancer is a major health problem not only in developed countries but also in developing countries like Nigeria. This study was designed to study the status of plasma electrolytes, urea, creatinine, and C-reative proteins (CRPs) in freshly diagnosed cancer patients.Methods: Plasma electrolytes (sodium [Na+], potassium [K+], chlorine [Cl-], and bicarbonate [HCO3-]), urea, creatinine, and CRP were estimated in four different types of cancer (liver, colon, cervical, and uterine) patients attending Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital Ado Ekiti Nigeria. A total of 250 patients (between age of 45 and 70 years) consisting of 50 patients in each cancer type and 50 normal subjects as control were considered in this study.Results: The result obtained revealed a significant (p<0.05) increase in the plasma levels of Na+, Cl-, creatinine, and CRP in all the cancer types when compared with the control subjects. Plasma urea level decreased significantly in patients with colon (3.16±0.70 mmol/L) and liver (3.03±1.75 mmol/L) cancer when compared with the control subjects (4.80±1.12 mmol/L). K+ and HCO3_ level was not significantly (p>0.05) different in all cancer types when compared with the control subjects.Conclusion: This study revealed a possible link between plasma electrolytes, creatinine, CRP, urea, and cancer which could be useful in the assessment and management of cancer

STATUS OF PLASMA ELECTROLYTES, UREA, CREATININE, AND C-REACTIVE PROTEIN IN CANCER PATIENTS.

 Objective: Cancer is a major health problem not only in developed countries but also in developing countries like Nigeria. This study was designed to study the status of plasma electrolytes, urea, creatinine, and C-reative proteins (CRPs) in freshly diagnosed cancer patients.Methods: Plasma electrolytes (sodium [Na+], potassium [K+], chlorine [Cl-], and bicarbonate [HCO3-]), urea, creatinine, and CRP were estimated in four different types of cancer (liver, colon, cervical, and uterine) patients attending Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital Ado Ekiti Nigeria. A total of 250 patients (between age of 45 and 70 years) consisting of 50 patients in each cancer type and 50 normal subjects as control were considered in this study.Results: The result obtained revealed a significant (p<0.05) increase in the plasma levels of Na+, Cl-, creatinine, and CRP in all the cancer types when compared with the control subjects. Plasma urea level decreased significantly in patients with colon (3.16±0.70 mmol/L) and liver (3.03±1.75 mmol/L) cancer when compared with the control subjects (4.80±1.12 mmol/L). K+ and HCO3_ level was not significantly (p>0.05) different in all cancer types when compared with the control subjects.Conclusion: This study revealed a possible link between plasma electrolytes, creatinine, CRP, urea, and cancer which could be useful in the assessment and management of cancer