Comparison of element quantities in healthy and cancerous tissues by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)

Introduction and Objective: Cancer, one of the most fatal public health problems, has been the subject of an intense scientific struggle for years to prevent, detect, and reduce its morbidity. In this study, we aimed to determine and compare trace element and heavy metal amounts in tumor and healthy cells using inductively coupled plasma- mass spectrometry, and to reveal their effects on cancer and prognosis. By doing so, we aimed to contribute to the literature in terms of preventive and therapeutic methods by identifying the effects of these elements on cancer behavior. Materials and Methods: A detailed analysis was conducted in the Department of General Surgery at Çukurova University Medical Faculty in 2024, evaluating the demographic data, comorbidities, preoperative laboratory results, oncological data, medical treatment effects, radiological and pathological data of 24 patients with malignant preliminary diagnosis and intraoperatively macroscopically detected tumors. Results: Our study consisted of two groups: benign tissue (Group 1) 24 and malign tissue (Group 2) 24. In the study involving a total of 24 patients, the mean age was 65.16±10.55. 15 (62.5%) of the patients were male, and 9 (37.5%) were female. By type, 12 (50%) were colon, 8 (33.3%) rectal, and 4 (16.7%) gastric cancers. No significant differences were found in trace element concentration differences between benign and malignant tissues and concentration differences by gender (p>0.05). Significant differences were observed in Cd, Pb, Fe, Zn among diagnoses (p<0.05). When concentration differences in patients receiving neoadjuvant therapy were examined, a significant difference was observed in As (p<0.05). In the comparison of tissues with lymphovascular invasion, Pb and Cr were significant (p<0.05), while no significant changes were observed in trace element concentrations in patients with perineural invasion and distant metastasis. Body mass index was found not to cause significant differences in trace element concentrations (p>0.05). When the interaction of trace elements in malignant and benign tissues was examined, significant positive correlations were observed in malignant tissues: Cr with Pb and Co, As with Cd, Cu with K, Cr and Pb, Co with Ni and Se, Fe with Pb, Cu and Zn, Ni with Cr (p<0.05). In benign tissues, significant positive correlations were found: Cr with Pb and Co, Mn with Co, Cr, Cu, Ni with Cr, Co, Pb and Cu (p<0.05), and a negative correlation between Se and Cd (p<0.05). Conclusion: Because we examined these elements directly in tumorous and healthy tissues rather than the most studied serum concentrations, we believe we can predict the direct effects of these elements in tumor cells. According to our data, we observed that trace elements exhibit different behaviors in tumorous and benign tissues and are also in interaction with each other. By comparing these elements directly related to nutrition in gastrointestinal malignancies, we believe we will create a different perspective for new studies and updates in the nutrition and pharmaceutical industries, and perhaps changes in drug contraindications. This study, which will provide a new contribution to the literature, will serve as a conceptual framework for larger-scale and more precise studies. Keywords: Cancer, Trace Element, ICP-MS, Mass Spectrometry