Major metals in human cancer: calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium.

Major elements calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium in normal and neoplastic tissues were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Samples of neoplastic tissues were taken from surgically resected materials from different regions; oral, respiratory, gastro-intestinal, breast, reproductive regions and bone marrow and diverse types of neoplasms. Samples from areas which, on gross examination, looked normal were designated as uninvolved and were also analysed together with controls from normal Indian subjects. In neoplastic tissues concentrations of magnesium, sodium and potassium were found to be enhanced, while variability was noted for the distribution of calcium in the normal and malignant state.