Serum total oxidant/antioxidant status and trace element levels in breast cancer patients

Oxidative stress and trace elements have been implicated in the development of breast cancer. However, how they contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease and the relationship between them remain unclear. In addition, most previous studies detecting one or a few oxidant/antioxidant markers failed to consider the overall oxidant/antioxidant status of the subjects. This study was designed to address this and to investigate the association between oxidative status and trace elements in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. Fifty-six patients with breast carcinoma at different clinical stages, 32 patients with benign breast tumor, and 20 healthy subjects (controls) were recruited into this study. Their serum total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), and levels of Cu, Zn, Fe, Se, Mg, and Mn were measured. Levels of TAS, TOS, OSI, and trace elements significantly differed between the study groups. Among subgroups of patients with different clinical stages of breast cancer, the levels of all the trace elements except Zn were similar, whereas TAS, TOS, and OSI levels were all significantly different. There were significant correlations between oxidative stress parameters and levels of trace elements in patients with breast carcinoma but not in patients with benign breast tumor or in the healthy controls. Disturbed oxidative stress status and trace element levels may contribute to the pathogenesis of breast tumors. TAS, TOS, and OSI may be useful biomarkers for monitoring the clinical status of breast cancer.