Serum copper and zinc levels in patients with cervical cancer
Chen, C.A.; Hwang, J.L.; Kuo, T.L.; Hsieh, C.Y.; Huang, S.C.
Journal of the Formosan Medical Association 89(8): 677-682
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0929-6646 PMID: 1981230 Document Number: 348049
The serum copper (SCL) and zinc (SZL) levels were measured in 99 patients with cervical cancer and 50 patients with uterine myoma as controls. The mean SCL in the control group was 109.4 .+-. 17.4 .mu.g/ml as compared to 117.1 .+-. 14.6 .mu.g/dl and was not significant (NS) in 17 carcinoma in situ (CIS) patients, 142.3 .+-. 14.2 .mu.g/dl in 30 stage I patients (p < 0.001), 159.0 .+-. 16.6 .mu.g/dl in 22 stage II patients (p < 0.001), 171.6 .+-. 25.7 .mu.g/dl in 10 stage III or IV patients (p < 0.001), and 166.2 .+-. 32.2 .mu.g/dl in 20 recurrent patients (p < 0.001). The SCL returned to control level 2 weeks after surgical treatment for the stage I and II patients (mean 110.6 .+-. 19.6 and 108.7 .+-. 20.4 .mu.g/dl, respectively, p < 0.001). The SZL was 97.2 .+-. 15.8 .mu.g/dl in control patients and only showed a significant decrease in stage III or IV and recurrent patients (67.2 .+-. 16.6 and 70.4 .+-. 17.2 .mu.g/dl, respectively). Concerning the copper/zinc ratio, the control group was 1.13 .+-. 0.07 as compared to 1.17 .+-. 0.07 in CIS (p = 0.06), 1.51 .+-. 0.24 in stage I (p < 0.001), 1.85 .+-. 0.37 in stage II (p < 0.001), 2.66 .+-. 0.61 in stage III or IV (p < 0.001), and 2.50 .+-. 0.75 in recurrent patients (p < 0.001). Taking mean .+-. 2.5 SD of the control values as cut off points, the percentages of the recurrent patients with abnormal SCL, SZL and a Cu/Zn ratio were 65, 30 and 90%, respectively. The Cu/Zn ratio would be a more sensitive index for detection of recurrent disease, although its role as a serum indicator for the early detection of clinically unmanifested recurrence needs further investigation.