Use of the copper/zinc ratio in the diagnosis of lung cancer

Abstract

Serum zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and the Cu/Zn ratio were evaluated in 84 patients with pulmonary lesions before surgery and in 100 healthy normal controls. There were 20 patients with benign and 64 with malignant lung tumors. Only the mean (kSD) Cu/Zn ratio was significantly higher in malignant tumors (2.24 * 0.78) than in benign tissue (1.63 3~ 0.33) (P < 0.001). In the normal group, the Cu/Zn ratio was significantly lower (1.43 k 0.29). Patients with advanced disease (Stage 111) had higher Cu/Zn ratio than patients in Stages I and I1 (2.65 k 0.86 versus 1.9 k 0.27) (P < 0.001). At a cutoff value of 1.72, Cu/Zn ratio had a sensitivity of 89%, specificity of 841, positive predictive value of 78%, and negative predictive value of 92% between controls and lung cancer patients. Between lung cancer patients and patients with benign pulmonary lesions the aforementioned values were 89%, 70%, 90%, and 70% respectively. A correlation between increasing Cu/Zn ratio and tumor extension and postoperative survival was observed. These findings suggest that Cu/Zn ratio may be used as a diagnostic test in lung cancer patients. Cancer 63:726-730, 1989.

Cu to Zn ratio, physical function, disability, and mortality risk in older elderly (ilSIRENTE study)

“…Therefore, a determination of serum CZr may be a useful tool for the clinical characterization of aged elderly at risk of worse physical decline or mortality. Such an assumption is also supported by other findings showing that plasma CZr was found to be higher in hospitalized elderly subjects compared to their healthy counterparts (Belbraouet et al 2007) and associated with the risk of CVD death (Leone et al 2006;Reunanen et al 1996) and malignancy (Cunzhi et al 2003;Dìez et al 1989). As such, without excluding other significant variables to predict physical decline and the possible appearance of disability, the establishment of specific cutoff of plasma CZr with general significance might be a useful clinical tool in the management of elderly subjects.…”

“…Increments of this ratio reflect increased inflammatory status or decreased nutritional status with subsequent appearance of some degenerative age-related diseases . Indeed, plasma CZr was found to be higher in hospitalized elderly subjects than in their healthy counterparts (Belbraouet et al 2007) and has been associated with the risk of CVD death (Leone et al 2006;Reunanen et al 1996) and malignancy (Cunzhi et al 2003;Dìez et al 1989). Therefore, this parameter may be a useful tool in disability research as well as in altered physical and functional performances, taking also into account that copper and zinc homeostasis may be related to the maintenance of physical performance, muscle strength as well as to the regulation of the inflammatory response (Mocchegiani et al 2008;Cousins 1985), whose alterations predispose to chronic disease, as well as to the development of disability in the elderly (Cesari et al 2009).…”

Trientine, a Copper-Chelating Agent, Induced Apoptosis in Murine Fibrosarcoma Cells In Vivo and In Vitro

“…Cu stimulates proliferation of endothelial cells in culture, which plays a pivotal role in the angiogenesis process [5,14]. In human malignancies, abnormal increases in Cu levels in serum and tumor tissues have been found in various types of tumors [4,7,13]. It is thought that copper deficiency inhibits angiogenesis, resulting in deprivation of supply of oxygen and nutrients for proliferation of tumor cells.…”

Zinc Deficiency Impacts CO2 Assimilation and Disrupts Copper Homeostasis in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

“…In vivo, Drosophila metallothionein genes are induced by both copper and zinc, suggesting that metallothioneins bind both metals (68). Among humans, serum copper/zinc ratios were significantly higher in patients with malignant lung tumors than in healthy patients and may serve as a diagnostic test in lung cancer patients (69). The copper/ zinc ratio is also significantly increased in disabled elderly patients relative to healthy elderly people and was associated with levels of systemic oxidative stress (70).…”