Copper and zinc levels in patients with cervical neoplasia: Clinical evaluation of the copper/zinc ratio

Summary

Plasma levels of copper and zinc were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry in 25 patients with invasive carcinoma of the cervix, 16 patients with cervical dysplasia, and 19 controls who were attending the gynaecological clinic. The plasma copper levels in the 25 patients with cervical cancer did not differ from the controls, but the plasma zinc levels were lower than in the control group. Measurements of plasma copper and zinc in the cervical dysplasia patients did not differ from those in the controls.

Although the plasma zinc and plasma copper/zinc ratio between the cancer patients differed from those in the other two groups of patients the differences are not enough to serve as markers for invasive cervical lesion.