Evaluation of Chromium and Selenium in Serum of Female Patients with Breast Tumor

This is an explorative study, rarely conducted in Iraq relied on sample of women with breast tumors to measure the possible contribution of chromium(Cr) and selenium(Se)values in the serum and hair to breast tumor genesis. Serum and hair samples were taken from 59 females with age from 25 to 60 years. Thirty four females with breast tumor were grouped according to the type of tumor into two groups (malignant: 20 and benign: 14) and twenty five were apparently healthy. The result demonstrated that scalp hair of patients with malignant breast cancer were significant increase of hair content of Cr with significant decrease of hair Se, compared to benign and healthy controls. The levels of serum Se were significantly decreasedin both malignant and benign groups, compared to controls. A Significant decrease in hair contents of Se was seen in malignant tumor groups, compared to controls. Non-significant increase in the level of serum Cr in the malignant and benigngroups, compared to controls.