[Determination of the content of organic acids in the saliva of patients with breast cancer by capillary electrophoresis.]

A technique for quantitative determination of low molecular weight organic acids in saliva by the method of capillary electrophoresis has been developed. The method was tested on volunteers, divided into 3 groups: the main one (breast cancer, n=21), the comparison group (fibroadenomas, n=29) and the control group (conditionally healthy, n=26). It is shown that the concentration of lactic, acetic and propionic acids increases uniformly when passing from the control group to the comparison group, and then to the main group. Against the background of breast cancer, the concentration of oxalic and formic acids decreases in comparison with the control, whereas in fibroadenomas the concentration of oxalic acid decreases, and the formic acid grows. In general, the proposed method can be a valuable tool in the study of metabolic changes associated with cancer.
Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.