Evaluation of Plasma Copper Levels among Breast Cancer Patients in Khartoum State

Abstract

This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at the Radiation & Isotopes Centre Khartoum (RICK) in Khartoum State to evaluate plasma cupper levels in Breast Cancer women. A total of 60 women with breast cancer were enrolled in this study, 30 healthy volunteers’ women as control group, in 32% age between age 40 and less (n= 19), 48% in age between 41 to 60 (n= 29) and 20% in age 61 and more (n= 12). Atomic absorption spectrophotometric assay was used for cupper estimation, BMI were calculated using international formula, data were analyzed by Statistical (SPSS version 15) computer software. The results showed significant increase in the mean of plasma cupper levels in patients when compared with control group (1.3 ± 0.3) versus (0.9 ± 0.14) with (P-value 0.000). Also there was a significant decrease in the plasma cupper levels in premenopausal women with breast cancer when compared with the mean of menopausal (1.4 ± 0.3) versus (1.2±0.3) (P-value 0.009). the study showed insignificant increase in the mean of plasma cupper levels in normal and overweight patient (P-value 0.167). insignificant increase in the mean of plasma cupper according to the durations of breast cancer less than or equal two year and more than two years (1.0 ± 0.00) versus (1.3 ± 0.3) (P-value 0.312). The result of current study indicated that there was significant decrease in the mean of plasma cupper levels in women with breast cancer according to their number of children who have less than 3 children (1.4 ±0.31) when compared with mean of patients who have more than 3 children (1.1±0.31) (P-value 0.003). In conclusion the cupper level increases in breast cancer. The differences in results may be explained by differences in dietary intake and age.