UNIVERSA MEDICINAHigh serum iron and zinc decrease glutathione S-transferase among women with breast cancer Nendyah Roestijawati*, Dwi Arini Ernawati*, and Diah Krisnansari* BACKGROUND Breast cancer in Indonesia ranks second as the most common cancer found in women after cervical cancer. Tumor cells express increased levels of antioxidant proteins to detoxify reactive oxygen species (ROS). Glutathione S-transferase (GST) is known to play a key role in the detoxification and reduction of ROS. Trace elements have nutritional benefits as essential cofactors for physiologic processes, but some can be toxic to humans. Accumulated evidence suggests that deficiency or excess of certain trace elements may be associated with risk of chronic diseases including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer. The aim of this research was to determine the correlation of the trace elements iron and zinc with the oxidative stress level of GST activity in women with breast cancer. METHODSAn observational analytic study with cross sectional design was conducted involving 35 breast cancer women. Research subjects were women with breast cancer diagnosed by biopsy. Measurements of iron and zinc levels were performed using atomic absorption spectrometry, GST activity was measured using spectrophotometry. Data analysis was done with the Pearson correlation test. RESULTSThe results showed that there was a significant relationship of serum iron with GST (r=-0.487; p<0.05) and serum zinc with GST (r=-0.409; p<0.01). CONCLUSIONOur study demonstrated that the higher zinc and iron level, the lower GST level among breast cancer women. It is recommended to use zinc, iron and GST levels as biomarkers for breast cancer and its progression.

<p>BACKGROUND<br />Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal that is classified as a human carcinogen (group IA), one of the cancers that it can cause being prostate cancer. The development of prostate cancer on a molecular basis involves oncogenes such as insuline-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Prostate cancer can be detected in the laboratory through the examination of prostate specific antigen (PSA). The present study aimed to determine the relationship of Cd levels with levels of PSA and IGF-1 in exposed and unexposed workers.</p><p>METHODS<br />The study design was cross sectional. The subjects of the studycame from two groups of workers, ie. the group of Cd exposed workers who were welding shop workers and the group of unexposed workers who were office workers. The minimum samplesize was 85 people. The independent variable was blood Cd level. The dependent variables were PSA and IGF-1 levels. Blood Cd levels were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), while PSA and IGF-1 were measured using ELISA. Data analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney test and the Spearman correlation test.</p><p>RESULTS<br />Mean blood Cd level in the exposed workers was 6.5 mg/L and in the unexposed workers 2.15 mg/L. There was a relationship between blood Cd and PSA levels (p&lt;0.05) and between blood Cd levels and IGF-1 (p &lt;0.05).</p><p>CONCLUSIONS<br />There was a relationship of blood Cd with PSA and IGF-1 levels.among workers. PSA and IGF-1 could be a biochemical markers of disease control in cadmium exposed workers.</p>

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Prostate cancer can be caused by heavy metals exposure that can be identified from increasing levels of metallothionein. Exposure to heavy metals is carcinogenic through the formation of ROS in the oxidative stress process. One of the markers of oxidative stress in prostate cancer is malondialdehyde. Purpose of study to determine the relationship between levels of metallothionein and malondialdehyde in prostate cancer. Research design was cross sectional with subjects were 30 patients with prostate cancer at district hospital at Purwokerto, Indonesia. Measurement levels of metallothionein and malondialdehyde used ELISA sandwich method. Data analysis used Spearman correlation test. There was a correlation between levels of metallothionein and malondialdehyde (p <0.05, r = 0.36). The increase of metallothionein level cause enhancement malondialdehyde level. As a conclusion, study report that there was corelation between metallothionein and malondialdehyde levels illustrates the process of oxidative stress on prostate cancer due to heavy metals exposure.