[Status of essential trace elements in untreated carcinomas of the head and neck].
BACKGROUND
The changed mineral status is well known in different tumor types. This phenomenon has influenced the redox potential of patients suffering from solid cancers. A prospective trial was conducted to evaluate the specifics for untreated head and neck cancer patients.


METHODS
We included 100 patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck region before each kind of treatment. Following serum-concentrations were measured by atom absorption spectrometry: selenium, copper, zinc, and ferrum. Additionally we evaluated the activity of glutathion peroxidase and the concentration of malondialdehyde of the serum.


RESULTS
66 % of all patients have shown a decreased serum-concentration of selenium. These patients were additionally characterized by decreased activities of endogenous glutathionperoxiase. A third of all patients had decreased zinc and iron levels. Copper was found enhanced in 30 %. In trend the malondialdehyde was increasing due to decreasing selenium levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Head neck cancer patients show the same characteristic trace element status as other solid tumors: decreased selenium, zinc and iron, increased copper. The therapeutic consequences of these observations are still unclear.
Büntzel
J
J
Klinik für HNO-Erkrankungen, Südharz-Krankenhaus Nordhausen gGmbH. jens-buentzel@shk-ndh.de
Glatzel
M
M
Micke
O
O
Fröhlich
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010039:Otorhinolaryngologic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D012016:Reference Values; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000097:blood*; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood
D014131:Trace Elements; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D003300:Copper; D007501:Iron; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D012643:Selenium; D015032:Zinc