Heavy metals in biological samples of cancer patients: a systematic literature review

作者：Donatella Coradduzza, Antonella Congiargiu, Emanuela Azara, Ismaeil Mohammed Abulkahar Mammani, Maria R. De Miglio, Angelo Zinellu, Ciriaco Carru, Serenella Medici · 发表于：BioMetals · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1007/s10534-024-00583-4 · 被引用次数：84 · 研究领域：Heavy Metal Exposure and Toxicity、Chromium effects and bioremediation、Heavy metals in environment

The majority of the so-called heavy metals are suspected to be involved in a number of pathologies and play a role in human carcinogenesis. Some of them (i.e. arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg) and nickel (Ni)) have been defined as carcinogens, increasing the susceptibility of tumor development and progression in humans. Moreover, Ni, Cr, Cd, Hg, and Pb together with zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe), may be capable of stimulating the progression of breast cancer and reducing a patient's sensitivity to treatment through alterations to DNA methylation. In patients with gastric cancers, levels of various heavy metals are augmented and hypothesized to amplify the expression of the human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 gene. Cd may increase the risk of lung cancer development and have a negative impact on the overall survival of lung cancer patients. To investigate the relation between heavy metals in biological samples and risk, occurrence and survival cancer individuals, a comprehensive review work was performed, with a focus on breast, lung, prostate and gastric cancers. An extensive search strategy was devised to ensure relevant literature could be identified, with the PECO framework being adopted to facilitate this and identify key search terms. As evidenced in this review, there is substantial data to support the hypothesis that heavy metals influence tumor development and progression. Unluckily the number of papers dealing with the determinati...