Selected Trace Elements and Heavy Metals in the Serum of Postoperative Gastric Cancer Patients and Their Relationship to CEA

Introduction: Gastric cancer (GC) is the second and fourth most prevalent cancer in men and women, respectively, and is one of the leading causes of cancer death worldwide. Many studies have shown that heavy metal exposure and trace element levels in the body are the most critical etiologies for cancer development. As a result, the goal of our research was to assess the imbalances in the serum concentrations of selected elements (Cu, Co, Se, Ni, Cd, and Pb) in post-operative GC patients against healthy participants/ controls. Methods: The metal levels were determined using a nitric acid/perchloric acid-based wet digestion technique and flame atomic absorption spectrometry, Serum levels of CEA were measured using a two-site immunoenzymometric assay, which is performed entirely in the AIA-PACK SLa test cups. Results: Pb, Cd, and Ni concentrations were found to be significantly higher in the blood of GC patients than in the blood of controls, but Cu and Co levels were significantly lower in the blood of GC patients than in the blood of controls. In the blood of post-operative GC patients, correlation analysis revealed a positive association between CEA-Cd, CEA-Pb, and CEA-Ni, while the correlation was negative for CEA-Cu. These findings were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion: According to our findings, low Co and Se levels, as well as high Pb and Cd levels, may have a role in the development of stomach cancer.