title: Tissue carcinoembryonic antigen, calcium, copper and iron levels in cancerous lung patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The expression of various trace elements and markers in lung cancer is controversial. The aim of this study is to evaluate the presence of calcium (Ca), copper (Cu), iron (Fe) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in cancerous untreated lung tissues and to determine a possible association between these markers and lung cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourty-eight cancerous lung tissue blocks, from Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Sultanate of Oman, were studied. Fe, Ca, Cu, and CEA were demonstrated in the tissue blocks using Perl's Prussian blue, Von Kossa's, modified rhodanine and immunohistochemical staining methods, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-three of 48 specimens showed positive Fe staining, 2 showed positive Ca staining and Cu was absent in all specimens. 93.7% expressed CEA in varying degree of positivity. 81.25% of these sections showed high expression of CEA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tissue concentrations of trace elements were not elevated in lung cancer and therefore cannot be considered as a potential marker. Despite the low sensitivity and specificity of CEA as previously reported, tissue CEA should be considered as a potential marker in the evaluation of lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman. nasarsidab@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Nasar Yousuf
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Alwahaibi
authors.forename: Jokha Sultan
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Algharibi
authors.forename: Amna Salim
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Alshukaili
authors.forename: Ahmed Khalifa
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Alshukaili
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D003300:Copper; D007501:Iron; D002118:Calcium