Aluminum concentrations in central and peripheral areas of malignant breast lesions do not differ from those in normal breast tissues

Raquel Mary Rodrigues-Peres, Solange Cadore, Stefanny Febraio, Juliana Karina Heinrich, Katia Piton Serra, Sophie F M Derchain, Jose Vassallo, Luis Otavio Sarian

Aluminum is used in a wide range of applications and is a potential environmental hazard. The known genotoxic effects of aluminum might play a role in the development of breast cancer. However, the data currently available on the subject are not sufficient to establish a causal relationship between aluminum exposure and the augmented risk of developing breast cancer. To achieve maximum sensitivity and specificity in the determination of aluminum levels, we have developed a detection protocol using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). The objective of the present study was to compare the aluminum levels in the central and peripheral areas of breast carcinomas with those in the adjacent normal breast tissues, and to identify patient and/or tumor characteristics associated with these aluminum levels.