The universal concentrations and cancer signs of trace elements in hair observed by X-ray fluorescence analysis

Abstract

Homeostasis in concentration of essential elements and its abnormality due to cancer have been observed for single hair samples by X-ray fluorescence analysis using synchrotron radiation. Ca, Br and K are associated with the cellular signal transduction and were found to have two levels of upper and lower concentrations in hair due to gating their ion channels of hair matrix cells where the channels opened by deficiency of the element. The analysis of patient hair from its root to tip revealed that breast cancer accompanied the characteristic long-period decrease from the upper to the lower level of hair [Ca] that had started 8 to 36 months before finding the cancer; the decreasing profiles were unique to cancer as a competitive process between parathyroid hormone PTH and cancer-induced PTH-related protein by comparison with those for non-cancer subjects. It is concluded that breast cancer originates in disturbance of the signal transduction by the high [Ca] in cells. The observed [Br] in hair gave signs for serious diseases such as renal failure. K deficiency was observed for a half of healthy subjects, similarly to the population of hypertension in Japan. Hair from hypertension patients showed K deficiency, unless taking depressor. Most of elements such as Fe, Cu and Zn in hair were indicators for the liver functions of their storage and excretion.