Bioaccumulation of Metals in Hairs of Breast Cancer Patients: Current Work and Future Prospects

Background: Breast cancer, a complex disease characterized by aberrant cellular physiology, poses a significant health threat to women globally. Its prevalence and mortality rates emphasize the need to understand its etiology and risk factors. Recent studies recommend a possible association between heavy metal revelation and the development of breast cancer. Objective: The work aimed to study heavy metal exposure in the hair of breast cancer patients across different stages of the disease according to previous work. Methods: The data from already reported studies was collected, including Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, and many more. Results: Previous research has shown elevated levels of cadmium in hair samples from breast cancer patients compared to controls. Other metals like zinc, lead, Hg, mercury, cobalt, nickel, selenium, tin, antimony, scandium, silver, gold, boron, barium, beryllium, calcium, cerium, cesium, gadolinium, manganese, and arsenic play an important role in spreading of breast cancer to people. Additionally, a comparison of metal concentrations in hair samples revealed significant differences between cancer patients and healthy individuals. Correlations between certain metals within each group were also found, suggesting distinct patterns in metal distribution among breast cancer patients. Conclusion: The elevated level of certain metals in hairs from breast cancer patients needs further investigation into the processes underlying their association with disease development and progression. Cadmium and other metals play an important role in breast cancer development either by oral, skin, or food ingestion. Understanding the part of metals in breast cancer may offer insights into preventive strategies and therapeutic interventions.