TRACE ELEMENTS IN MEDICINE (MOSCOW)
2015. 16(1): 28-35
ORIGINAL PAPERS

ELEMENTAL HOMEOSTASIS OF BLOOD PLASMA IN MALIGNANT TUMORS OF EPITHELIAL TISSUES

E.I. Erlykina1, L.M. Obukhova1, A.V. Alyasova1, T.N. Gorshkova1, V.G. Pimenov2, I.I. Evdokimov2

1 Nizhny Novgorod State Medical Academy, Minin and Pozharsky sq. 10/1, Nizhny Novgorod, 603005, Russia
2 G.G. Devyatykh Institute of Chemistry of High-Purity Substances of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Tropinina str. 49, Nizhny Novgorod, 603950, Russia

DOI: 10.19112/2413-6174-2015-16-1-28-35 

ABSTRACT. The goal of the work was to analyze the relationship between mineral homeostasis in blood plasma and the processes of carcinogenesis. Blood plasma was studied in 73 patients not previously exposed to antineoplastic treatment. Blood plasma of 31 actually healthy people was used as the control. The concentration of macro elements was determined on the analyzer "KoneLab 20/20i" (Finland). Determination of trace elements was carried out by atomic emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma using the spectrometer iSAR6300Duo (Thermo Scientific, the USA). When studying the content of macro elements in the blood plasma of cancer patients, even at the early stages of carcinogenesis there were revealed a statistically significant reduction in the level of Na in the blood plasma, an increase in the content of Ca, P, Mg. K and Cl concentrations tend to increase in the blood plasma of cancer patients, but these differences were not statistically significant. Analysis of trace elements in the blood plasma showed a decrease in the concentration of Cu, Li (by 2.5-5 times), and the growth of Sr content. The content of Zn in the blood plasma of cancer patients was reliably reduced starting with stage II of the disease. Lithium has multiple effects on the life of cells affecting elements of the messenger systems. Inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase, regulating some signaling pathways, by lithium is considered to be the most important process for cell proliferation. On the other hand, the malignant cells are more sensitive to TRAIL-induced apoptosis which is activated under the effect of lithium salts. Since lithium is able to modulate the activity of DNA polymerase, its lacking under the conditions of activated free radical oxidation may be the trigger mechanism for cell malignancy. Accounting for available literature data on the role of lithium in the signaling pathways that regulate cell proliferation and apoptosis as well as the identified decrease in the concentration of this trace element in the blood plasma even at the early stages of cancer, the participation of lithium in the processes of carcinogenesis seems to be quite probable.

KEYWORDS: macronutrients, micronutrients, malignant neoplasm of epithelial tissues, lithium.