Abstract:

Serum copper and zinc of 66 healthy adults and 17 patients with hepaticcancer were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.Themean concentration of serum copper in healthy blood donors and volunteerswas 126.40±23.44μg/100ml(X±S.D),and zinc was 116.12±25.60μg/100ml.Theconcentration of serum copper was markedly increased in 17 patientswith hapatic cancer,in which the mean serum copper was 155.83±37.08μg/100ml(P<0.001).Whereas,serum zinc decreased in great degree(86.72±31.89μg/100ml,P<0.001).Serum Cu/Zn ratio increasedconspicuously(1.12±0.30→2.15+0.31,P<0.001).