Carcinoma de células escamosas da cavidade oral: associação do hábito tabagista nas concentrações dos elementos químicos

Abstract

Head and neck cancer is highly malignant, aggressive and has a high rate of morbidity and mortality. It has a complex and multifactorial etiology, with tobacco and alcohol consumption being the main ones. Tobacco smoke leads to numerous trace elements in the organism and these are related to carcinogenesis, however few studies have pointed out the role of such elements in prognosis and survival. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the relationship between elemental levels of sulfur, chlorine, copper, zinc and bromine with smoking, prognosis and survival of patients with oral cancer. For that, 78 samples of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity were obtained to determine the levels S, Cl, Cu, Zn and Br using the technique of µ-XRF. The results revealed an association of the concentration of the elements S, Cl, Cu and Br with the smoking habit. High levels of copper and zinc have been associated with relapse, however copper has better disease-free survival and zinc has worse disease-specific survival. Thus, it is concluded that the investigation of the levels of sulfur, chlorine, copper, zinc and bromine is important to help elucidate the mechanisms involved in tumor progression and survival. In addition, copper and zinc proved to be important prognostic and survival markers for patients with oral cancer.