Study of Serum Levels of Trace Elements (Selenium, Copper, Zinc, and Iron) in Breast Cancer Patients

Purpose: Malignancy of the breast is one of the commonest causes of death in women aged between 40-45 years. The aim of this study was to carry out a comparative study to investigate the effect of minerals on the risk of a woman developing breast cancer. Materials and methods: Three hundred blood samples were used to analyze the status of concentration of Selenium (Se), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn) and Iron (Fe) in breast cancer (BC) patients and healthy individuals by using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results: There was a significant (p 0.05) in serum of BC patients. There was a significant decline in the concentration of Se and Zn while high level of serum copper in breast cancer patients, as compared with normal healthy controls. Conclusion: We found a significant association between trace elements (serum selenium, zinc and copper) with breast cancer.