title: The diagnostic value of serum copper/zinc ratio in gynecological tumors.
abstract: Serum copper levels (SCu) and serum zinc levels (SZn) were determined on admission in 73 women hospitalized for suspected gynecological tumor. Twenty-five of the women were subsequently found to have malignant tumor, while 48 had benign growths. The serum Cu/Zn ratio of the malignant group (2.13 +/- 0.53) was significantly (p less than 0.001) higher than that of the benign group (1.45 +/- 0.25). A good correlation was established between the Cu/Zn ratio and the stage of the malignant tumor. Serum copper level showed a linear correlation (R = 0.878) with serum ceruloplasmin values. These results indicate that the serum Cu/Zn ratio may be used as a valuable predictor of the presence of malignant gynecological tumor and its stage.
mesh_terms: D002570:Ceruloplasmin / Q000097:blood; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000097:blood; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000097:blood; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D003300:Copper; D002570:Ceruloplasmin; D015032:Zinc