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Some Elements in Thyroid Tissue are Associated with More Advanced Stage of Thyroid Cancer in Korean Women

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Abstract

Excessive exposure to heavy metals including cadmium and lead is known to have adverse effects on various types of cancer. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the associations between blood and tissue levels of heavy metals and trace elements and different stages of thyroid cancer in Korean women. Ninety-two Korean women undergoing thyroidectomy were included in this study. Blood and thyroid tissue levels of cadmium, lead, mercury, selenium, and zinc were measured, and histopathological results, cancer tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage, and cancer multifocality were assessed. The tissue levels of cadmium, selenium, and zinc were significantly higher in patients with TNM stages 3 and 4 compared to those in stage 1. The tissue level of cadmium was greater in patients with higher tumor stage (≥T2) than those with lower stage (T1). Also, the tissue levels of cadmium and zinc were higher in multifocal group than in unifocal group. A logistic multiple regression analysis showed that the odds ratio (OR) for advanced tumor stage group (≥T2) increased in those with higher tissue cadmium level after adjustment (OR = 1.397, 95 % CI = 1.078–1.811). The accumulation of cadmium in thyroid tissue may be one of important etiologic factors for the thyroid cancer progression and aggravation in Korean women.

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Acknowledgments

The approval number of Institutional Review Board of Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University is 3–2013–0149.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

Funding Source

This study was supported by a faculty research grant of Yonsei University College of Medicine for 2013 (6-2013-0618).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Severance Institute for Vascular and Metabolic Research, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 135-720, Republic of Korea

    Hye-Kyung Chung, Ji Sun Nam & Chul Woo Ahn

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 135-720, Republic of Korea

    Ji Sun Nam, Chul Woo Ahn & Kyung Rae Kim

  3. Department of Surgery, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 135-720, Republic of Korea

    Yong Sang Lee

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  1. Hye-Kyung Chung
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Yong Sang Lee or Kyung Rae Kim.

Additional information

Hye-Kyung Chung and Ji Sun Nam contributed equally to this work.

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Chung, HK., Nam, J.S., Ahn, C.W. et al. Some Elements in Thyroid Tissue are Associated with More Advanced Stage of Thyroid Cancer in Korean Women . Biol Trace Elem Res 171, 54–62 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-015-0502-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-015-0502-5

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