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.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
M. S. Wolff and A. Weston, Environ. Health Perspect. 105(suppl.,) 891–896 (1997).
P. Pisani, D. M. Parkin, and J. Ferlay, Int. J. Cancer 55, 891–903 (1993).
S. Y. Tu, Y. J. Zhu, W. G. Li, and C. Hou, Metal Ions Biol. Med. 497–500 (1990).
P. Travglini, P. Moriondo, and E. Togni, J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 68, 186–190 (1989).
V. Singh and A. N. Garg, Biol. Trace Element Res. 64, 237–245 (1998).
F. Cavallo, M. Gerber, E. Marubini, et al., Cancer 67, 738–745 (1991).
K. Sharma, D. K. Mittal, R. C. Kesarwani, and V. P. Kamboj, Indian J. Med. Sci. 48, 227–232 (1994).
A. N. Garg, V. Singh, R. G. Weiginwar, and V. N. Agdeo, Biol. Trace Element Res. 46, 185–202 (1994).
V. Singh and A. N. Garg, Biol. Trace Element Res. 46, 237–245 (1998).
S. K. Gupta, V. K. Shukla, M. P. Vaidya, S. K. Roy, and S. Gupta, J. Surg. Oncol. 46, 178–181 (1991).
I. Yucel, F. Arpaci, A. Ozet, et al., Biol. Trace Element Res. 40, 31–38 (1994).
M. K. Schwartz, Cancer Res. 35, 3481–3487 (1975).
J. Garofalo, H. Ashikari, M. L. Lesser, S. J. Budrick, and G. P. Bodey, Cancer 46, 2682–2685 (1980).
P. A. Van Noord, M. J. Maas, I. Van Der Tweel, and C. Collette, Breast Cancer Res. Treat. 25, 11–19 (1993).
Taiwan Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Taipei, Taiwan (1994).
E. N. Drake II and H. H. Sky-Peck, Cancer Res. 49, 4210–4215 (1989).
A. G. Fuchs, R. Mariotto, and E. S. De Lustig, Eur. J. Cancer Clin. Oncol. 22, 1347–1352.
J. C. Smith, J. T. Holbrook, and D. E. Danford, J. Am. Coll. Nutr. 4, 627–638 (1985).
C. Di Ilio, P. Saccheta, G. Del Boccio, G. La Rovere, and G. Federici, Cancer Lett. 29, 37 (1985).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kuo, H.W., Chen, S.F., Wu, C.C. et al. Serum and tissue trace elements in patients with breast cancer in Taiwan. Biol Trace Elem Res 89, 1–11 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1385/BTER:89:1:1
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/BTER:89:1:1