Serum Copper Level and the Copper-to-Zinc Ratio Could Be Useful in the Prediction of Lung Cancer and Its Prognosis: A Case-Control Study in Northeast China

Abstract

Background

The association between lung cancer and trace element levels, such as serum copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) levels and the Cu:Zn ratio, vary among different demographic groups; however, it is unknown whether variations in serum Cu and Zn levels and Cu:Zn ratios are related to the prediction and prognosis of lung cancer. We aimed to clarify this relationship in the Han Chinese population of Northeast China.

Methods

We recruited 146 patients with lung cancer and 146 age- and resident area-matched cancer-free controls.

Results

Increased serum Cu and Zn levels and the Cu:Zn ratio were positively associated with lung cancer (OR: 72.243, 95% CI 24.159–216.030; OR: 3.513, 95% CI, 1.476–8.358, and; OR: 58.582, 95% CI, 20.023–171.395, respectively). The critical serum Cu level for the prediction of lung cancer was 1.37 mg/L (sensitivity, 77.4%; specificity, 84.9%), while the critical Cu:Zn ratio was 1.45 (sensitivity, 69.9; specificity, 88.4%). Patients with stage IV non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) had higher serum Cu levels and a higher Cu:Zn ratio than patients with stage I, II, or III NSCLC.

Conclusions

The serum Cu level and the Cu:Zn ratio are effective predictive indicators of lung cancer and may help evaluate the prognosis of patients with NSCLC.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflicts of interest. No financial support.

Data Availability Statements

The data used to support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.

Author Contributions

Cui JW and Li W designed the research; Data acquisition was performed by Luo JJ, Chen X and Ma KW; Wang WJ and He Hua performed the data analyses; Cui JW, Wang WJ and Wang Xu drafted the manuscript; Cui JW, Li W and Wang Xu revised and edited the paper; all authors approved the final version.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Research on Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases Prevention and Control of the National Ministry of Science and Technology [Grant 2016YFC1303804 to JW.C]; the Project of Jilin Provincial Department of Education [Grant JJKH20190020KJ to JW.C]; the Project of Health and Family Planning Commssion of Jilin Province [Grant 2017J064 to JW.C].