Evaluation of Plasma Levels of Copper and Zinc among Sudanese Women with Breast Tumors

Abstract

A case control study conducted during the period from March to June 2014 to evaluate plasma levels of copper and zinc in breast tumors patients in Radio Isotope centre of Khartoum. 50 breast tumor patients were selected as test group and 35 as control group. Age matched. Blood specimens were collected from both groups, and the plasma levels of copper and zinc were determined using Atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The means and standard deviation of the plasma copper and zinc were calculated. T-test was used for comparison (significant level was set at p ≤ 0.05) using SPSS 17.0. The result of this study indicated significant reduction in the means of plasma levels of copper and zinc in test group (0.593±0.141mg/L), (0.439 ± 0.143 mg/L) when compared to control group (0.809 ± 0.135 mg/L), (0.687±0.104 mg/L), (p=0.000) (P=0.007) respectively. The result of this study showed significant reduction of the means of the plasma levels of copper and zinc in malignant breast cancer patients (0.579 ± 0.134 mg/L), (0.406 ± 0.234mg/L) when compared to patients with benign breast tumor (0.740 ± 0.127 mg/L), (0.752 ± 0.139 mg/L) (P = 0.000), (p=0.000) respectively. There were positive but insignificant correlation between plasma levels of copper and zinc with age (r =0.069, P value =0.717), (r =0.028, P value =0.847) respectively. Also showed negative but insignificant correlation between plasma levels of copper and zinc with duration of tumor (r = -0.04, P value =0.764), (r = -0.063, P value =0.664) respectively. Conclusion: The means of the plasma levels of copper and zinc are significantly decreased in patients with breast tumor when compared to healthy control women. And the means of plasma levels of copper and zinc are significantly decreased in patients with malignant breast tumor when compared to patients with benign breast tumor. Age has a positive but insignificant correlation with plasma levels of copper and zinc. Duration of breast tumor have negative but insignificant correlation with plasma levels of copper and zinc.