Effect of radiation therapy on trace elemental concentrations of hair samples of cervical cancer patients—PIXE technique

Trace elemental analysis of hair samples from subjects suffering with cervical cancer before radiation therapy and at successive intervals during radiation therapy was carried out using the PIXE technique. A 2 MeV proton beam was employed. The elements Cl, K, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb were identified and their relative concentrations were estimated. The concentrations of Cl, K, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni and Zn were found to be lower in hair samples of cervical cancer patients before radiation therapy than those from controls, whereas the concentration of Cu showed the opposite trend. The concentrations of Cl, K, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn and Pb showed a definite trend of variation with successive intervals of radiation therapy, which indicates that these elements are affected during radiation therapy. The Cu/Zn ratio also decreases with successive radiation therapy. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.