Presentation Type
Poster
Discipline Track
Biomedical Science
Abstract Type
Research/Clinical
Abstract
Background: According to Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCON) 2020, urothelial bladder cancer (UBC) is the 17th most common malignancy in India, and bladder cancer represents a significant health problem due to the potential morbidity and mortality. UBC is commonly associated with industrialized regions and the most accountable risk factors have been tobacco smoke along with occupational chemical exposures including heavy metals. A massive increase in human exposure to heavy metals has been noticed due to industrial activities since last century and an emerging understanding of the carcinogenic effects of certain heavy metals is now being considered as causative agents for UBC. However, the carcinogenic role of certain heavy metals in the etiology of UBC has not yet been studied comprehensively.
Aims and objectives: The present study aims to investigate the carcinogenic role of heavy metals through epigenetic changes in UBC.
- Assessment of heavy metals in Blood, urine & and tissue samples.
- Assessment of Global DNA methylation (5-mC%) in tumor and adjacent healthy tissues.
Methodology: The cross-sectional study where a total of 50 patients with urothelial bladder cancer and 50 healthy controls were recruited. Heavy metals were quantified using Inductively coupled plasma-Mass-spectrometry (ICP-MS) in blood, urine, and tissues. The global DNA methylation level was assessed by ELISA in cancer and adjacent healthy tissue obtained from patients.
Results: The mean age of patients with UBC and healthy control were 56.96 ± 13.4; 31.78 ± 7 respectively. The heavy metals chromium (2.72 ± 7.1 vs 2.57 ± 2.9; p 0.02), arsenic (0.27 ± 1.5 vs 0.2 ± 0.7; p 0.007), and cadmium (0.61 ± 3.9 vs 0.16 ± 0.2; p 0.01) in urine were high in patients. Lead in blood (8.15 ± 9.6 vs 5.0 ± 4.5 p 0.02) was elevated in patients. The 5-mC% is significantly higher in cancer tissue (24.5 ± 17) compared to adjacent healthy tissue (2.3 ± 2.1) p
Conclusion: Heavy metals may be one of the major risk factor for the development of urothelial bladder cancer by inducing epigenetic modification as DNA methylation.
Academic/Professional Position
Graduate Student
Recommended Citation
Verma, Ganesh Kumar; Sen, A.; Saha, S.; Mirza, A.; and Atif, A., "The carcinogenic effect of heavy metals and its association with epigenetic changes in urothelial bladder cancer patients" (2024). Research Symposium. 93.
https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/somrs/2024/posters/93
Included in
The carcinogenic effect of heavy metals and its association with epigenetic changes in urothelial bladder cancer patients
Background: According to Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCON) 2020, urothelial bladder cancer (UBC) is the 17th most common malignancy in India, and bladder cancer represents a significant health problem due to the potential morbidity and mortality. UBC is commonly associated with industrialized regions and the most accountable risk factors have been tobacco smoke along with occupational chemical exposures including heavy metals. A massive increase in human exposure to heavy metals has been noticed due to industrial activities since last century and an emerging understanding of the carcinogenic effects of certain heavy metals is now being considered as causative agents for UBC. However, the carcinogenic role of certain heavy metals in the etiology of UBC has not yet been studied comprehensively.
Aims and objectives: The present study aims to investigate the carcinogenic role of heavy metals through epigenetic changes in UBC.
- Assessment of heavy metals in Blood, urine & and tissue samples.
- Assessment of Global DNA methylation (5-mC%) in tumor and adjacent healthy tissues.
Methodology: The cross-sectional study where a total of 50 patients with urothelial bladder cancer and 50 healthy controls were recruited. Heavy metals were quantified using Inductively coupled plasma-Mass-spectrometry (ICP-MS) in blood, urine, and tissues. The global DNA methylation level was assessed by ELISA in cancer and adjacent healthy tissue obtained from patients.
Results: The mean age of patients with UBC and healthy control were 56.96 ± 13.4; 31.78 ± 7 respectively. The heavy metals chromium (2.72 ± 7.1 vs 2.57 ± 2.9; p 0.02), arsenic (0.27 ± 1.5 vs 0.2 ± 0.7; p 0.007), and cadmium (0.61 ± 3.9 vs 0.16 ± 0.2; p 0.01) in urine were high in patients. Lead in blood (8.15 ± 9.6 vs 5.0 ± 4.5 p 0.02) was elevated in patients. The 5-mC% is significantly higher in cancer tissue (24.5 ± 17) compared to adjacent healthy tissue (2.3 ± 2.1) p
Conclusion: Heavy metals may be one of the major risk factor for the development of urothelial bladder cancer by inducing epigenetic modification as DNA methylation.