DETERMINATION OF SOME TRACE ELEMENTS AND HEAVY METAL LEVELS (Cu, Mn, Mg, Fe, Zn, Co, Pb, AND Cd) IN BLOOD SERUM OF PATIENTS WITH LIP AND ORAL CAVITY CANCERS

This study investigated copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), cobalt (Co), lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) levels in the blood serum of patients with lip and oral cavity cancer. Our study aims to determine the relationship of some trace elements and heavy metals with lip and oral cavity cancer. Blood serum results of 21 individuals with lip and oral cavity cancer were compared with those in the control group consisting of 30 volunteer and healthy subjects. The serum levels of trace elements and heavy metals (Cu, Mn, Mg, Fe, Zn, Co, Pb and Cd) were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry at Yuzuncu Yil University Central Research Laboratory (Spectrometer: Thermo Scientific C103500100, China). In this study, when the descriptive statistics and comparison results for Cu, Mn, Mg, Fe, Zn, Co, Pb, and Cd were examined, the difference between the patient and healthy group means was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). According to these results, Zn, Fe, Mn, Mg, and Cu levels which are essential trace elements for the human body, were significantly lower in patients than in healthy groups. On the other hand, Cd, Co, and Pb levels which are harmful and toxic to the human body were significantly higher in patients than in healthy persons (p<0.05). In conclusion, deficiencies of some trace elements, such as Cu, Mn, Fe, Zn, and Co, were detected in the blood serums of patients with lip and oral cavity cancer. Deficiencies of trace elements in patients with lip and oral cavity cancer may result from excessive nutrient con-sumption or malnutrition of cancer patients, in addition to which trace element and heavy metal levels (Cu, Mn, Mg, Fe, Zn, Co, Pb and Cd) can affect the etiopathogenesis of the disease.