Affiliations: Center for Advanced Science and Technology, Kouto
3-1-1, Kamigori, Ako, Hyogo, 678-1205, Japan | Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Department of
Analytical and Bioinorganic Chemistry, 5 Nakauchi-cho, Misasagi, Yamashina-ku,
Kyoto, 607-8414, Japan | Minoh City Hospital, Kayano 5-7-1, Minoh-shi, Osaka,
562-8562, Japan | Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Inohana
1-8-1, Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-8677, Japan
Abstract: Homeostasis in concentration of essential elements and its
abnormality due to cancer have been observed for single hair samples by X-ray
fluorescence analysis using synchrotron radiation. Ca, Br and K are associated
with the cellular signal transduction and were found to have two levels of
upper and lower concentrations in hair due to gating their ion channels of hair
matrix cells where the channels opened by deficiency of the element. The
analysis of patient hair from its root to tip revealed that breast cancer
accompanied the characteristic long-period decrease from the upper to the lower
level of hair [Ca] that had started 8 to 36 months before finding the cancer;
the decreasing profiles were unique to cancer as a competitive process between
parathyroid hormone PTH and cancer-induced PTH-related protein by comparison
with those for non-cancer subjects. It is concluded that breast cancer
originates in disturbance of the signal transduction by the high [Ca] in cells.
The observed [Br] in hair gave signs for serious diseases such as renal
failure. K deficiency was observed for a half of healthy subjects, similarly to
the population of hypertension in Japan. Hair from hypertension patients showed
K deficiency, unless taking depressor. Most of elements such as Fe, Cu and Zn
in hair were indicators for the liver functions of their storage and
excretion.
