Non invasive XRF analysis of human hair for health state determination of breast tissue

Background: Using hair samples to analyze the trace element concentrations is of interest among many researchers. X-ray fluorescence [XRF] and X-ray diffraction [XRD] are the most common methods in studying the structure and concentration of elements of tissues and also crystalline materials, using low energy X-ray

Objectives: In the present study, the detection ability of Wave Length X-ray Fluorescence [WLXRF] of breast cancer at early stages was evaluated and the results were compared with other routine modalities such as mammography

Materials and Methods: Hair samples of 54 women [including 27 healthy and 27 patients] with average age of 52.03 +/- 11.44 years were analyzed. All the sample donors were Iranian women. For the measurements Wave Length X-ray Fluorescence [WLXRF] method was used

Results: Trace elements in healthy individuals were higher than those in cancer patients. In addition, sensitivity of the used method [WLXRF] was 96% compared to mammography [77%] as a gold standard for breast cancer detection

Conclusions: Trace elements in healthy individuals were higher than cancer patients and it seems that WLXRF may be used as a safe, low cost and reliable method with sensitivity higher than those of the other two relevant methods, XRD and mammography

Gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepenta-acetic acid conjugated with monoclonal antibody C595 as new magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents for breast cancer [MCF-7] detection

The monoclonal antibody, C595, against breast cancer cell line was conjugated with cyclic anhydride gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepenta-acetic acid [Gd-cDTPAa] to produce Gd-DTPA-C595 and used as specific breast cancer cell line [MCF-7] contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]. After incubation of breast cancer cell line [MCF-7], with different contrast agents [Gd-DTPA-C595, Gd-DTPA, Gd-H and GdCl[3]] at 37°C for 12 h and twice washing, the T[1] relaxation times and the signal enhancement of washing solutions of different contrast agents are examined by nuclear magnetic resonance and results are compared. The percent of Gd that attached into the cell membrane of MCF-7 was also measured by UV spectrophotometer. The data indicate that the T[1] relaxation of washing solutions at 11.4 Tesla [500 MHz] in Gd-DTPA-C595 was greater than in Gd-DTPA solutions and was much greater than in control. These conjugates [Gd-DTPA-C595] show high specificity for breast cancer cell line [MCF-7]. The gadolinium concentration in washing solutions measured using UV-spectrophotometer showed no gadolinium attached into the cell membrane in the GdCl[3] as control. Good cell membrane uptakes of Gd-DTPA-C595 indicate selective delivery of this agent into the breast cancer cell membrane and have considerable potential in diagnostic MRI