Serum Iron, Copper, Zinc levels in bladder cancer patients in comparison with healthy individuals

Abstract Despite the high prevalence and recurrence of bladder cancer, researches about the role of trace elements such as iron, copper and zinc in bladder cancer are limited in number. In the present study the concentration of Iron, Copper and Zinc, (Fe, Cu and Zn) were determined in the serum of patients with bladder cancer and compared with the level of these trace elements in healthy subjects. This case control study was conducted on 51 patients with bladder cancer and 58 healthy volunteers after matching for age, sex and smoking habits. After a written consent sample were collected and the concentrations of Fe, Cu and Zn were measured. Comparisons were made using student t test. There was a significant decrease in mean Fe and Zn serum level in bladder cancer patients as compared to the control group (p <0.001). In contrast serum Cu level were significantly higher in patients having bladder cancer than in the control group (p <0.001). More over patients with bladder cancer had significantly higher Cu/Zn ratio than controls. The present study showed that the mean serum cu level was higher and the mean serum Zn and Fe level were lower in patients with bladder cancer than the control group. Further studies are required to demonstrate a possible cause-and effect relationship between these elements and bladder cancer.