Analysis of trace elements in the fingernails of breast cancer patients using instrumental neutron activation analysis

The aim of this study was to find trace elements that increase risk of breast cancer based on the deviation of the concentration of trace elements in the fingernail collected from the women with breast cancer and the normal women. The study was conducted with 10 elements (As, Au, Br, Co, Cr, Fe, Sb, Sc, Se, and Zn) using k₀-INAA and statistical analysis method. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were found for Cr, Fe, Sc and Zn between the case and the control groups. A significant correlation between Fe and Zn has found for the normal women, but this disappears in the women with breast cancer. On the contrary, a significant correlation between As and Cr has found in the case group, but no such correlation has noticed for the control group. The elements Cr, Fe, and Zn may be associated to the risk of breast cancer. (author)