A comparative analysis of gallstones from gallbladder cancer patients and cholelithiasis patients unveiling the association between gallstones and gallbladder cancer.

Abstract

Gallstones (GS) are one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases. Till date medical cure for gallstones is not available. Unlike kidney stones, GS need cholecystectomy, i.e. surgical removal of the gallbladder (GB). GS are asymptomatic in most of the cases. They are the cause of GB inflammation that is chronic cholecystitis. GS have been supposed to be an important risk factor for causing gallbladder cancer (GBC). But the exact relationship between GS and GBC is not clear till date. In this study, we have compared the gallstones from cholelithiasis patients with those from patients with GBC. The size, volume and weight of these GS were comparatively analyzed. We have performed compositional as well as heavy metal analysis of the GS for both groups of patients by FTIR, FESEM and ICP-MS. The size and volume of gallstones from GBC patients was found to be on the higher side. We found that the GS from GBC patients were only of cholesterol type while those from cholelithiasis patients were mixed and pigment type. Heavy metals such as As, Pb, Fe were detected in higher concentration in GS from GBC patients. Thus, heavy metals detected in the gallstones could be regarded as the contributing factors to GBC. Further the mechanism of initiation of cancer by heavy metals in presence of cholesterol GS needs to be studied, so that novel strategies can be developed for the prevention of GBC.