Serum copper level in ovarian carcinoma.
Serum copper levels (SCL) were determined before any diagnostic procedure was performed or treatment given in 40 women admitted for the investigation of a pelvic mass and, later, in those patients with ovarian carcinoma after chemotherapy and before a second-look operation was performed. Patients with ovarian carcinoma were found to have significantly higher SCL than patients with benign ovarian lesions. A SCL of 150 micrograms/dl clearly separated patients with a pelvic mass on the basis of ovarian carcinoma and those with benign noninflammatory pelvic lesions. The same SCL of 150 micrograms/dl separated patients with ovarian carcinoma that responded to chemotherapy and those with residual disease. It is suggested that SCL be included as a member of the screening panel of biologic tumor markers in general and in ovarian carcinoma in particular.
Margalioth
E J
EJ
Udassin
R
R
Maor
J
J
Schenker
J G
JG
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood; D002369:Castration; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood*; D004407:Dysgerminoma / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D007813:Laparotomy; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000097:blood; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003300:Copper