Comprehensive analysis of 44 elements in the lung cancer tissues of smokers: A comparative study with control lung tissues

Lung cancer remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, yet the baseline status of trace elements in healthy/control lung tissues is largely unresolved, with no comprehensive elemental profile established for lung cancer. This study aimed to characterize baseline concentrations of 44 elements in healthy lung tissues (n = 92) and investigate changes in elemental composition in cancerous lung tissues (n = 92). The second aim was to observe possible differences in elemental concentrations in healthy and cancerous lung tissues based on age and sex. Additionally, this study aimed to identify trace elements potentially involved in lung cancer pathophysiology. Through detailed elemental analysis, this study revealed significant differences between healthy and cancerous lung tissues. Specifically, concentrations of Mn, Co, Ni, Cd, and U were significantly higher in healthy lung tissues, while Cu, Tl, Pb, Rh, Pd, and Bi were significantly higher in cancerous lung tissues. Age-related analysis of the control tissue group showed that healthy lung tissue from older individuals (above 64 years) had lower concentrations of elements Mn, Zn, Be, Al, Sb, Ba, Tl, Ga, Rb, Y, Re, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Yb, La, and Bi than healthy tissues from younger individuals (below 64 years). In cancerous lung tissues, those from females (n = 40) exhibited significantly lower concentrations of Cr, Cu, As, and Pb but higher Pt concentrations than cancerous lung tissues from males (n = 52). Furthermore, in cancerous lung tissues, those from younger patients displayed lower concentrations of As, Sb, and Au compared to equivalent tissues from older individuals. These findings offer valuable insights into the elemental composition of lung cancer tissue, enhancing the understanding of how trace elements could influence lung cancer pathophysiology.