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Serum and tissue trace elements in colorectal cancer
Author(s) -
Gupta Sanjeev K.,
Shukla Vijay K.,
Vaidya Madho P.,
Roy Salil K.,
Gupta Saroj
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of surgical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.201
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1096-9098
pISSN - 0022-4790
DOI - 10.1002/jso.2930520311
Subject(s) - medicine , colorectal cancer , zinc , gastroenterology , malignancy , cancer , copper , chemistry , organic chemistry
Serum copper, zinc, and Cu/Zn ratio were measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometry in 30 patients with colorectal cancer and compared with 30 healthy control subjects. In the patients with colorectal cancer, the tissue copper and zinc levels were also measured in paired histologically normal and malignant colorectal tissue samples obtained at surgery. The mean serum copper levels were higher in patients with colorectal cancer (165.99 vs. 98.84 μg/dl) ( P < 0.001). The mean serum zinc levels were lowered only in advanced (Dukes stages C and D) colorectal cancer compared to controls (89.94 vs. 115.08 μ/dl) ( P < 0.001). However, the Cu/Zn ratio progressively increased with the advancing stage of malignancy (1.86 vs. 0.86) ( P < 0.001). The cancerous colorectal tissue showed a higher concentration of both copper (2.78 vs. 1.79 μg/g) ( P < 0.001) and zinc (27.16 vs. 18.98 μg/g) ( P < 0.01) compared to non‐cancerous colorectal tissue. The exact mechanism responsible for the alterations in trace element levels in patients with colorectal cancer is largely unclear and requires further evaluation. However, the serum copper level and the Cu/Zn ratio are of value in estimating the extent of the carcinoma as well as in determining the prognosis of these patients. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.