Serum and tissue trace elements in patients with breast cancer in Taiwan |
| |
Authors: | Kuo Hsien Wen Chen Su Fan Wu Chin Ching Chen Dar Ren Lee Jau Hung |
| |
Institution: | (1) Institute of Environmental Health, China Medical College Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China;(2) Department of Surgery, China Medical College Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China |
| |
Abstract: | The objective of this study was to compare levels of four elements (zinc, copper, selenium, and iron) in the serum and tissue
of 68 breast tumor patients (benign and malignant), from a teaching hospital in central Taiwan. Samples of normal tissue (5
cm away from tumor) were also taken from patients with malignant tumors. Only serum was taken from the 25 healthy persons
in the control group. Results showed that Zn, Cu, Se, Fe, Cu/Zn, Cu/Se, and Cu/Fe were present in different amounts in the
serum of each of the three groups. Zn and Se levels were lower in the serum of the two tumor groups compared to the control
group. In tissue samples, Zn, Cu, Se, and Fe concentrations were different in each of the three groups. The malignant tissue
had the highest levels of all four elements. In advanced-stage malignant tumors, levels of Cu and the ratios of Cu/Fe and
Cu/Zn (in both serum and tissue) were highest. The ratios of serum Cu/Zn, Cu/Fe, and Cu/Se were also higher in malignant patients.
The cutoff value of serum Cu/Zn was 1.2 (sensitivity and specificity were both 100%). The Cu/Zn ratio was highest in the advanced
stages of cancer and was a better diagnostic tool for breast cancer than Cu/Se and Cu/Fe. The authors suggest that change
of trace elements in serum and tissue might be useful and significant as biomarkers involving the initial plastic process. |
| |
Keywords: | Breast cancer copper zinc selenium iron |
本文献已被 PubMed SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|