PO25DISTRIBUTION OF MG, FE, CU AND ZN IN GLIOBLASTOMA, MENINGIOMA I AND II USING INDUCTIVELY COUPLED PLASMA MASS SPECTROMETRY (ICP-MS)

INTRODUCTION: The body absorbs a wide variety of elements from the environment whose concentration in the blood is regulated by homeostatic mechanisms catalysed and regulated by enzymes and enzyme inhibitors. Trace elements act as cofactors in enzymes and their increase or decrease correlates with physiological changes. Trace element increase or deficiency has been linked to cancer development and progression. METHOD: Serum samples from 55 patients was collected and stored at -80°C until analysis. 100 µL of serum from each sample was taken and 100 µL of internal standard (Bi) was added and run alongside multi-element standard. Certified reference material (CRMs) Dort-4, Tort-2 and Bovine liver were used for quality control. ICP-MS analysis was carried out using a Thermo X-Series machine. RESULTS: Glioblastoma, Meningioma I and II investigated showed a deficiency of Mg, Fe, Cu and Zn concentrations based on reported levels from healthy individuals in the literature. There was no significant difference between gender and sex against concentration of Mg, Fe, Cu and Zn across the four tumour groups investigated (F = 1.829, DF = 3 and 1, P = 0.154). CONCLUSION: Concentrations of trace elements in serum could be used to monitor cancer relapse in patients who are in remission. The process is less invasive and does not require constant irradiation from imaging techniques.