Serum Copper and Zinc Levels Among Iranian Colorectal Cancer Patients

A Cuproptosis-Related LncRNA Risk Model for Predicting Prognosis and Immunotherapeutic Efficacy in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Cuproptosis is a novel programmed cell death pathway that is initiated by direct binding of copper to lipoylated tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle proteins. Recent studies have demonstrated that cuproptosis-related genes regulate tumorigenesis. However, the potential role and clinical significance of cuproptosis-related long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have not been established. We performed a bioinformatics analyses of RNA-sequencing data of HCC patients extracted from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset to identify and validate a cuproptosis-related lncRNA prognostic signature. Furthermore, we analyzed the clinical significance of the prognostic signature of cuproptosis-related lncRNA in predicting the immunotherapeutic efficacy and the status of the tumor immune microenvironment. The RNA-sequencing data, genomic mutations, and clinical information were downloaded for 374 HCC samples and 50 normal liver samples from TCGA-Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma (TCGA-LIHC) dataset. Co-expression analysis of Gene-lncRNA pairs with 49 known cuproptosis-related prognostic genes was used to define cuproptosis-related prognostic lncRNAs. We performed the LASSO algorithm and univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis, respectively, to gradually identify the prognostic risk models of cuproptosis-related lncRNA based on the TCGA-LIHC dataset. Subsequently, the predictive performance of the model was evaluated using receiver operation characteristic (ROC) curves, Kaplan-Meier survival curves, and prognostic nomogram. The analysis of gene-lncRNA co-expression with 49 known cuproptosis-related genes identified 1359 cuproptosis-related lncRNAs in the TCGA-LIHC data set. A prognostic model was constructed with nine cuproptosis-related prognostic lncRNAs (AC007998.3, AC003086.1, AC009974.2, IQCH-AS1, LINC0256 1, AC105345.1, ZFPM2-AS1, AL353708.1 and WAC-AS1) using LASSO regression and Cox regression analyses. Risk scores were calculated for all HCC patient samples based on the four cuproptosis-related lncRNA prognostic models. All HCC patients were divided into high-risk and low-risk subgroups according to a 1:1 ratio column. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that the overall survival rate (OS) of the high-risk group patients was significantly lower than that of the low-risk group. The principal component analysis (PCA) confirmed that the prognostic lncRNA model accurately distinguished between high- and low-risk HCC patients. Furthermore, regression analysis as well as ROC curves confirmed the prognostic value of the risk score. A nomogram with risk scores and other clinicopathological characteristics was constructed. The nomogram accurately predicted the probability of 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS in HCC patients. Tumor mutation burden (TMB) scores were higher for high-risk patients than for low-risk patients. HCC patients in the low-risk group showed lower TIDE scores and greater sensitivity to antitumor drugs than those in the high-risk group. Tumor immune responses and tumor immune cell infiltration were significantly different between the high-risk and low-risk groups of patients with HCC. Our study identified a 9-cuproptosis-related lncRNA signature that accurately predicted prognosis, immunotherapeutic efficacy, and the status of the tumor immune microenvironment in HCC patients. Therefore, this cuproptosis-related lncRNA risk model is a potential prognostic biometric feature in HCC and shows high clinical value in identifying HCC patients who are potentially responsive to immunotherapy.

Serum copper status of patients with colorectal cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide and a public health problem. Several clinical studies have shown that copper (Cu) is involved in carcinogenesis, possibly via cuproptosis, a new form of programmed cell death, but the conclusions from published reports are inconsistent. This study aimed at evaluating the potential of Cu dysregulation as a CRC susceptibility factor.

METHODS

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched Cochrane Library, EBSCOhost, EMBASE, ProQuest, PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science for studies reporting serum Cu concentrations in CRC patients and controls from articles published till June 2023. The studies included reported measurements of serum/plasma/blood Cu levels. Meta-analyses were performed as well as study quality, heterogeneity, and small study effects were assessed. Based on a random effects model, summary standardized mean differences (SMDs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were applied to compare the levels of Cu between CRC patients and controls.

RESULTS

26 studies with a pooled total of9628 participants and 2578 CRC cases were included. The pooled SMD was equal to 0.85 (95% CIs -0.44; 2.14) showing that the CRC patients had higher mean Cu levels than the control subjects, but the difference was not significant (p = 0.185) and the heterogeneity was very high, I2 = 97.9% (95% CIs: 97.5-98.3%; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The pooled results were inconclusive, likely due to discordant results and inaccuracy in reporting data of some studies; further research is needed to establish whether Cu dysregulation might contribute to the CRC risk and whether it might reflect different CRC grades.

Predictors based on cuproptosis closely related to angiogenesis predict colorectal cancer recurrence

Up to one-third of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients experience recurrence after radical surgery, and it is still very difficult to assess and predict the risk of recurrence. Angiogenesis is the key factor of recurrence as metastasis of CRC is closely related to copper metabolism. Expression profiling by microarray from two datasets in Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) was selected for quality control, genome annotation, normalization, etc. The identified angiogenesis-derived and cuproptosis-related Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and clinical data were screened and used as predictors to construct a Cox regression model. The stability of the model was evaluated, and a nomogram was drawn. The samples were divided into high-risk and low-risk groups according to the linear prediction of the model, and a Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed. In this study, a model was established to predict the postoperative recurrence of colon cancer, which exhibits a high prediction accuracy. Furthermore, the negative correlation between cuproptosis and angiogenesis was validated in colorectal cancer cell lines and the expression of lncRNAs in vitro was examined.

Zinc intake, SLC30A8 rs3802177 polymorphism, and colorectal cancer risk in a Korean population: a case-control study

PURPOSE

Zinc is an essential micronutrient involving in multiple enzymatic reactions of human metabolism and biological functions affecting the cancer development. However, the relationship between dietary zinc intake and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk has been unclear. Herein, our study investigated the relationship between dietary zinc intake and CRC risk, and examined how the SLC30A8 rs3802177 genetic variant affects this association.

METHODS

A total of 1431 CRC cases and 2704 controls were selected to investigate the relationship between dietary zinc intake and CRC risk. After excluding individuals without genotype data, 1097 CRC cases and 1559 controls were used to evaluate the interaction between dietary zinc intake and the rs3802177 polymorphism in CRC risk. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were measured using unconditional logistic regression models.

RESULTS

Higher dietary zinc intake was inversely associated with the risk of CRC in the total population [adjusted OR (aOR) = 0.80, 95% CI 0.66-0.96, p for trend = 0.018]. In the codominant model, G+ carriers of the SLC30A8 rs3802177 with higher consumption of zinc were observed to have a significantly lower risk of CRC in all participants (p for interaction = 0.020). In females, GG carriers with higher zinc intake showed a stronger protective effect against the development of CRC (p for interaction = 0.008).

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, our findings suggest an inverse association between dietary zinc intake and CRC risk, and this relationship may be modified by SLC30A8 rs3802177 polymorphism.

Multifunctional 3D-printed scaffolds eradiate orthotopic osteosarcoma and promote osteogenesis via microwave thermo-chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy

Tumor recurrence and a lack of bone-tissue integration are two critical concerns in the surgical treatment of osteosarcoma. Thus, an advanced multifunctional therapeutic platform capable of simultaneously eliminating residual tumor cells and promoting bone regeneration is urgently needed for efficient osteosarcoma treatment. Herein, to thoroughly eliminate tumors and simultaneously promote bone regeneration, an intelligent multifunctional therapeutic scaffold has been engineered by integrating microwave-responsive zeolitic imidazolate framework 8 (ZIF-8) nanomaterials loaded with a chemotherapeutic drug and an immune checkpoint inhibitor onto 3D-printed titanium scaffolds. The constructed scaffold features distinct microwave-thermal sensitization and tumor microenvironment-responsive characteristics, which can induce tumor immunogenic death by microwave hyperthermia and chemotherapy. Orthotopic implantation of the nanocomposite scaffold results in an enhanced immune response against osteosarcoma that may effectively inhibit tumor recurrence through synergistic immunotherapy. During long-term implantation, the zinc ions released from the degradation of ZIF-8 can induce the osteogenic differentiation of stem cells. The porous structure and mechanical properties of the 3D-printed titanium scaffolds provide a structural microenvironment for bone regeneration. This study provides a paradigm for the design of multifunctional microwave-responsive composite scaffolds for use as a therapy for osteosarcoma, which could lead to improved strategies for the treatment of the disease.

Cuproptosis-related gene SERPINE1 is a prognostic biomarker and correlated with immune infiltrates in gastric cancer

PURPOSE

The serine protease inhibitor clade E member 1 (SERPINE1) has been studied as a potential biomarker in a variety of cancers, but poorly studied in gastric cancer (GC). The purpose of this study was to explore the prognostic value of SERPINE1 in GC and primarily analyze its functions.

METHODS

We analyzed the the prognostic value of SERPINE1 and studied the relationship with clinicopathologic biomarkers in gastric cancer. The expression of SERPINE1 was analyzed by GEO and TCGA databases. Moreover, we validated the results by immunohistochemistry. Next, the correlation analysis between SERPINE1 and the cuproptosis-related genes was analyzed by the "Spearman" method. CIBERSORT and TIMER algorithms were used to analyze the correlation of SERPINE1 with immune infiltration. Furthermore, GO and KEGG gene enrichment analyses were used to study the functions and pathways that SERPINE1 might be involved in. Then, drug sensitivity analysis was performed using CellMiner database. Finally, a cuproptosis-immune-related prognostic model was constructed using genes related to immune and cuproptosis, and verified against external datasets.

RESULTS

SERPINE1 was up-regulated in gastric cancer tissues, which tends toward poor prognosis. Using immunohistochemistry experiment, the expression and prognostic value of SERPINE1 were verified. Then, we found that SERPINE1 was negatively correlated with cuproptosis-related genes FDX1, LIAS, LIPT1, and PDHA1. On the contrary, SERPINE1 was positively correlated with APOE. This indicates the effect of SERPINE1 on the cuproptosis process. Furthermore, by conducting immune-related analyses, it was revealed that SERPINE1 may promote the inhibitory immune microenvironment. The infiltration level of resting NK cells, neutrophils, activated mast cells, and macrophages M2 was positively correlated with SERPINE1. However, B cell memory and plasma cells were negatively correlated with SERPINE1. Functional analysis showed that SERPINE1 was closely related to angiogenesis, apoptosis, and ECM degradation. The KEGG pathway analysis showed that SERPINE1 may be associated with P53, Pi3k/Akt, TGF-β, and other signaling pathways. Drug sensitivity analysis showed that SERPINE1 could be also seen as a potential treatment target. The risk model based on SERPINE1 co-expression genes could better predict the survival of GC patients than SERPINE1 alone. We also verified the prognostic value of the risk score by GEO external datasets.

CONCLUSION

SERPINE1 is highly expressed in gastric cancer and related to poor prognosis. SERPINE1 may regulate cuproptosis and the immune microenvironment by a series of pathways. Therefore, SERPINE1 as a prognostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target deserves further study.

A novel cuproptosis pattern and tumor immune microenvironment characterization in urothelial carcinoma of the bladder

Background

Urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB) is the most prevalent malignant tumor of the urinary system worldwide, which has a significant recurrence rate despite multiple treatment options available. As a unique and novel copper-dependent programmed cell death mechanism, the comprehensive impact of cuproptosis on the tumor immune microenvironment, clinicopathological characteristics and the prognosis of patients remains largely unclear.

Methods

A total of 568 UCB samples were thoroughly examined for cuproptosis patterns using data downloaded from TCGA and GEO, based on 10 cuproptosis-related genes reported previously. Then, the univariate COX regression analysis was performed on the genes that differed across the various patterns. To measure individual cuproptosis pattern, a cuproptosis score system was constructed using a principal component analysis algorithm. To validate the scoring system, immunohistochemical staining was performed on tumor tissues with different pathological grades, and experiments in vitro were conducted about the differentially expressed genes related to prognosis. Finally, the capacity of scoring system to predict the response to immunotherapy was verified by using data from IMvigor 210 cohort.

Results

Four unique cuproptosis clusters and two gene clusters were finally found by the investigation. The clinical features and prognosis of patients, as well as the mRNA transcriptome, pathway enrichment, and immune cell infiltration in TME, varied dramatically between various cuproptosis clusters and gene clusters. To identify individual cuproptosis patterns in UCB patients, we also established a cuproptosis scoring system. After validation with multiple methods, it was indicated that the score system could predict the prognosis of UCB patients and was significantly connected to clinical features such TNM category, tumor grade, molecular type and ultimate survival status. The clinical outcomes of UCB patients were predicted effectively according to the tumor mutation burden in conjunction with the scoring system. Furthermore, we found that the cuproptosis score had a significant correlation with the response to immunotherapy and the sensitivity to chemotherapy.

Conclusion

This study revealed the potential impact of cuproptosis on the UCB tumor immune microenvironment and clinical pathological characteristics. The cuproptosis score system could effectively predict the prognosis of patients and the response to chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

The causal effect of serum micronutrients on malignant kidney neoplasm in European descent

Purpose

Observational studies have revealed that serum minerals and vitamins are associated with cancer. However, the causal relationships between serum minerals and vitamins and renal malignancies remain unclear.

Methods

Mendelian randomization (MR) was used for causal estimation. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for serum minerals and vitamins were obtained from published genome-wide association studies (GWAS). GWAS for malignant kidney neoplasm was obtained from the FinnGen consortium. Methods of inverse variance weighted (IVW), MR-Egger, and weighted median were carried out for causal inference. F-statistic was calculated to ensure a robust instrumental variable. Cochran's Q statistics was applied to calculate heterogeneity. MR-Egger regression, MR-pleiotropy residual sum and outlier methods (MR-PRESSO) methods were used to perform pleiotropy analysis. Meanwhile, confounding factors were considered to determine whether causal inference would be biased.

Results

Eight different micronutrients were included (zinc, iron, magnesium, calcium, copper, selenium, phosphate, and vitamin B12). After MR analysis, we found a protective effect of serum zinc against malignant kidney neoplasm (IVW: odds ratios (ORs), 0.86; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.78-0.94; p, 0.0016; MR-Egger: OR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.64-0.97; p, 0.052; weighted median: OR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.75-0.96; p, 0.011). Causal relationships between other micronutrients and malignant kidney neoplasm were not obtained. No heterogeneity and pleiotropy were detected, while causality was not biased by confounding factors.

Conclusion

We considered that serum zinc exerted a protective effect against malignant kidney neoplasm. In clinical practice, for people with high malignant kidney neoplasm risk, an oral zinc supplementation might play a role in a potential therapeutic target.

Comprehensive analysis of cuproptosis-related genes in immune infiltration and prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma

Copper-dependent cell death, called cuproptosis, is connected to tumor development, prognosis, and the immune response. Nevertheless, the function of cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs) in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains unknown. This work used R software packages to classify the raw data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases of LUAD patients. Afterward, the connections of the various subgroups, clinical pathological traits, and immune infiltration (IMIF) features with the TME mutation status were explored. Ultimately, a nomogram and calibration curve were developed, aiming at enhancing the clinical application of CRG scores and estimating the survival probability of patients. Moreover, the relationships between cuproptosis and the molecular traits, immune cell infiltration of tumor tissue, prognosis, and clinical treatment of patients were investigated in this work. Subsequently, the CRG score was established to predict overall survival (OS), and its credible predictive ability in LUAD patients was identified. Afterward, a highly credible nomogram was created to contribute to the clinical viability of the CRG score. Furthermore, as demonstrated, gene signatures could be applied in assessing tumor immune cell infiltration, clinical traits, and prognosis. In addition, high tumor mutation burden, immunological activity, and significant survival probability were characterized by low CRG scores, and high CRG scores were related to immunosuppression and stromal pathway activation. The current work also discovered a predictive CRG-related signature for LUAD patients, probably contributing to TME trait clarification and more potent immunotherapy strategy exploration.

A novel cuproptosis-related gene signature to predict prognosis in Glioma

Glioma is primary brain tumour with a poor prognosis. Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of glioma, and is critical in the development of antiglioma agents and glioma therapy. Cuproptosis is a novel form of cell death mediated by protein lipidation and highly associated with mitochondrial metabolism. However, the clinical impact of cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs) in glioma remains largely unknown. The purpose of this study is to create a new CRGs signature that can be used to predict survival and immunotherapy in glioma patients. LASSO regression analysis was applied to establish prognostic gene signatures. Furthermore, a CRGs signature-based nomogram was developed and demonstrated good predictive potential. We also analyzed the relationship of CRGs and immune infiltration and the correlation with the pathological grade of glioma. Finally, we explored the miRNA that may regulate cuproptosis-related gene FDX1. We found that miR-606 was markedly downregulated in GBM, overexpression of miR-606 can significantly inhibit aerobic glycolysis and proliferation of GBM cells. FDX1 was upregulated in GBM, knockdown of FDX1 significantly inhibit aerobic glycolysis and proliferation of GBM cells. And luciferase assay was used to verified that miR-606 binds to and regulates FDX1 mRNA. These results provide a basis for further exploring the biological mechanisms of cuproptosis. This study may provide new potential therapeutic perspectives for patients with glioma.

Regulatory roles of copper metabolism and cuproptosis in human cancers

Copper is an essential micronutrient for human body and plays a vital role in various biological processes including cellular respiration and free radical detoxification. Generally, copper metabolism in the body is in a stable state, and there are specific mechanisms to regulate copper metabolism and maintain copper homeostasis. Dysregulation of copper metabolism may have a great connection with various types of diseases, such as Wilson disease causing copper overload and Menkes disease causing copper deficiency. Cancer presents high mortality rates in the world due to the unlimited proliferation potential, apoptosis escape and immune escape properties to induce organ failure. Copper is thought to have a great connection with cancer, such as elevated levels in cancer tissue and serum. Copper also affects tumor progression by affecting angiogenesis, metastasis and other processes. Notably, cuproptosis is a novel form of cell death that may provide novel targeting strategies for developing cancer therapy. Copper chelators and copper ionophores are two copper coordinating compounds for the treatment of cancer. This review will explore the relationship between copper metabolism and cancers, and clarify copper metabolism and cuproptosis for cancer targeted therapy.

An Assessment of Metallothionein-Cadmium Binding in Rat Uterus after Subchronic Exposure Using a Long-Term Observation Model

Cadmium (Cd) is an environmental pollutant known to pose a public health issue. The mechanism of Cd toxicity on the uterus, including the protective role of metallothionein (MT), is still not fully understood. The aim of the study was to evaluate the degree of MT-Cd binding in the uterus of rats exposed per os to Cd at daily doses of 0.09, 0.9, 1.8 and 4.5 mg Cd/kg b.w. for 90 days. To assess the permanence of the bond, the rats were observed over long observation periods: 90 and 180 days after termination of exposure. Additionally, uterine concentration of Zn, Cu, Ca, Mg was determined. Cd leads immediately after exposure to a max. 30-fold increase in the concentration of Cd in the uterus, with only small amounts being bound to MT. After 90 days following termination of exposure, and especially after 180 days, an increase in MT-Cd concentration was noted for the three highest doses; even so, the degree of Cd binding by MT was still small. Additionally, the accumulation of Cd in the uterus disturbs the homeostasis of determined essential elements, manifested by a significant increase in Cu concentration and a decrease in Zn, Mg and Ca, especially 180 days after termination of exposure. The obtained results indicate that MT has only a slight protective role in the uterus and that Cd ions may have harmful effects not related to MT: directly on the uterine tissue, and indirectly by disturbing the homeostasis of its essential elements.

Study of Serum Zinc and Copper Levels and Tumor Pathology: A Pilot Study in People Affected with Head and Neck Cancers

This study aimed to determine understanding the role of serum copper, zinc and copper/zinc ratio with tumor staging in people newly diagnosed to be affected with Head and Neck cancer and by comparing with age matched health individuals devoid of any orodental maladies. The study included patients confirmed to be affected with HN cancer with histological diagnosis of Head and Neck cancer (60) and age matched healthy volunteers (N = 23). The demographic details like age, domicile, menopausal status and pathological details (like tumor stage, number of lymph node involvement, tumor size) were collected from the patient's hospital data file. The serum levels of zinc and copper assayed as per standard procedures and the zinc/copper was calculated for the cancer patients and controls. The data were subjected to unpaired "t" test and ANOVA with Bonferroni's multiple comparisons. The association between zinc and copper levels with pathological details between the variables was ascertained using the Pearson correlation coefficient(r). A statistical value of p < 0.05 was considered to be significant in agreeance to the accepted norms. Results: This result of the study indicates that when compared to the healthy individuals, the serum levels of copper, and zinc, and copper/zinc ratio were high in patients with H&N cancer. Also when compared with controls, the levels of zinc decreased, while that of copper and copper/zinc ratio increased in people affected with H&N cancer (p = 0.017 to 0.0001) and with the stage of the tumor (p = 0.03 to 0.001). The results of the study suggest that levels of serum zinc were significantly lower and that of copper higher in H&N cancer patients than that in controls and also that it was dependent on the tumor stage. When analyzed cumulatively the results hint that zinc and copper, due to their role in free radical generation and prevention have an important role in cancer progression and possible prevention by judicious intervention.

Serum Copper and Zinc Levels Among Iranian Vitiligo Patients

INTRODUCTION

Vitiligo is a chronic skin disease, which its etiopathogenesis is not fully understood. Numerous studies have suggested that oxidative stress may play a role in the pathophysiology of vitiligo. There are controversial reports as to the changes of serum trace elements, copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) levels in vitiligo patients.

OBJECTIVES

We evaluated the alterations in the level of serum Cu and Zn among a group of Iranian vitiligo patients.

METHODS

The levels of serum Cu and Zn were compared between 117 vitiligo patients and 137 healthy controls using atomic absorption spectrophotometry.

RESULTS

The mean Cu and Zn levels in the cases (113.57 ± 59.43 and 95.01 ± 58.95 μg/dl, respectively) were significantly lower than those of the controls (138.90 ± 38.14 and 121.83 ± 33.80 μg/dl, respectively) (P = 0.00). We also observed significantly lower serum Cu and Zn concentrations in young (< 50 years) than the elderly (≥ 50 years) patients (P = 0.00). The mean Cu and Zn levels in the patients with generalized vitiligo (111.63±54.18 and 93.11±59.33 μg/dl, respectively) were significantly lower than patients with localized vitiligo (120.74 ±71.64 and 98.69±58.63 μg/dl, respectively) and those in the control (P = 0.00). The serum Cu/Zn ratio obtained in the young and male patients was higher than those in their matched controls (P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The current study has shown that the disturbance of serum Cu and Zn levels is associated with vitiligo, and may play an important role in the disease development of Iranian patients.

Transcriptional and genetic alterations of cuproptosis-related genes correlated to malignancy and immune-infiltrate of esophageal carcinoma

Esophageal carcinoma (ESCA) is a common type of cancer with high mortality. Cuproptosis is a new type of cell death and is characterized by the dependence on mitochondrial respiration and protein lipoylation. However, the potential roles of cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs) in ESCA remain elusive. Here, we systematically assessed the transcriptional and genetic alterations of CRGs in ESCA. We identified a CRGs signature for ESCA patients. A 6-CRGs signature was constructed by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis along with the univariate cox regression analysis and differential genes analysis. The CRGs score could significantly stratify ESCA patients’ survival and a high CRGs score was significantly correlated with worse overall survival. Moreover, higher CRGs score indicated higher pathology grades and aberrant cell adhesion, possibly via the PI3K-AKT pathway, which could also underly their increased sensitivity to PI3K-AKT pathway inhibitors. In addition, patients with high CRGs tend to hold more mutation load and abnormal APOBEC mutation. Notably, a higher CRGs score was anomalously associated with more immune infiltration, which could explain its malignancy by increased PD-L1 stability and a higher proportion of bystander T cells. In conclusion, our report revealed the significance of cuproptosis in ESCA and may have therapeutic potential in activating the bystander T cells.

Prognostic analysis of cuproptosis-related gene in triple-negative breast cancer

Background

Cuproptosis is a copper-dependent cell death mechanism that is associated with tumor progression, prognosis, and immune response. However, the potential role of cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs) in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains unclear.

Patients and methods

In total, 346 TNBC samples were collected from The Cancer Genome Atlas database and three Gene Expression Omnibus datasets, and were classified using R software packages. The relationships between the different subgroups and clinical pathological characteristics, immune infiltration characteristics, and mutation status of the TME were examined. Finally, a nomogram and calibration curve were constructed to predict patient survival probability to improve the clinical applicability of the CRG_score.

Results

We identified two CRG clusters with immune cell infiltration characteristics highly consistent with those of the immune-inflamed and immune-desert clusters. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the gene signature can be used to evaluate tumor immune cell infiltration, clinical features, and prognostic status. Low CRG_scores were characterized by high tumor mutation burden and immune activation, good survival probability, and more immunoreactivity to CTLA4, while high CRG_scores were characterized by the activation of stromal pathways and immunosuppression.

Conclusion

This study revealed the potential effects of CRGs on the TME, clinicopathological features, and prognosis of TNBC. The CRGs were closely associated with the tumor immunity of TNBC and are a potential tool for predicting patient prognosis. Our data provide new directions for the development of novel drugs in the future.

Serum trace element levels of gastrointestinal cancer patients in an endemic upper gastrointestinal cancer region

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are an important cause of the death rate in Turkey and in the world. Especially upper (esophageal and gastric) GI cancers are the leading types of cancer by 20-27% in Eastern Turkey. Trace elements are involved in many physiological and metabolic processes in the human body. Recent studies suggest that the increase or decrease of trace elements in the body may be related to the formation and development of many diseases such as cancers, diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases etc. METHOD AND MATERIALS: In this study some trace elements; cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), Copper (Cu), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn) concentrations were investigated in the blood serums of esophageal, gastric and colon cancer patients and healthy controls in Van city area, an endemic upper (esophageal and gastric) GI region of Eastern Turkey. The analysis of the elements was realized with a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (FAAS). RESULTS: Mean serum levels of Cd and Ni in esophageal and gastric cancer patients were very significantly lower compared to controls (p < 0.001 and < 0.005). In addition, the mean serum Co level of esophageal cancer patients was very significantly lower than in controls and gastric cancer patients (p < 0.002). Also, the mean serum levels of Fe and Mn in all (esophageal, gastric and colon) cancer groups were very significantly lower than in controls (p < 0.001 and 0.002). Mean serum levels of Cu, Mg, Pb and Zn were not significantly different in all cancer patients compared to controls. CONCLUSION: We have detected the deficiency of five trace elements (Fe, Mn, Cd, Ni, Co) in esophageal, gastric and colon cancer patients. The deficiencies of trace elements may be due to malign over consumption of the nutrients and to the malnutrition of the advanced cancer patients. Nutritional therapy rich in trace elements should be considered as one of the strategies to fight against cancers.

The Impact of Zinc and Zinc Homeostasis on the Intestinal Mucosal Barrier and Intestinal Diseases

Zinc is an essential trace element for living organisms, and zinc homeostasis is essential for the maintenance of the normal physiological functions of cells and organisms. The intestine is the main location for zinc absorption and excretion, while zinc and zinc homeostasis is also of great significance to the structure and function of the intestinal mucosal barrier. Zinc excess or deficiency and zinc homeostatic imbalance are all associated with many intestinal diseases, such as IBD (inflammatory bowel disease), IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), and CRC (colorectal cancer). In this review, we describe the role of zinc and zinc homeostasis in the intestinal mucosal barrier and the relevance of zinc homeostasis to gastrointestinal diseases.

Artesunate Inhibits the Development of Esophageal Cancer by Targeting HK1 to Reduce Glycolysis Levels in Areas With Zinc Deficiency

Esophageal cancer (EC) threatens many lives in China, especially in areas with high incidences of EC. Our previous studies proved that zinc deficiency (ZD) promotes the cell cycle, thus promoting the progression of EC in areas with a high incidence of EC. Artesunate could inhibit the cell cycle, thereby inhibiting the progression of EC. In this study, we first demonstrated the mechanism by which artesunate inhibits EC in vitro and then demonstrated that artesunate could reverse the ZD-promoted progression of EC before EC occurred in vivo. The results showed that artesunate could inhibit the cell cycle, metastasis, and glycolysis of EC cells. Artesunate could target HK1, promote HK1 degradation, and reduce the levels of HIF-1α and PKM2 expression, which are key glycolysis enzymes. The in vivo results showed that ZD could increase the expression of HK1 and increase the incidence of EC. Artesunate reduced the incidence of EC and decreased the level of HK1 expression before EC occurred. Artesunate has an anti-EC effect by inhibiting aerobic glycolysis and has the potential to be a drug that prevents EC in areas with a high risk of EC.

Serum Copper and Zinc Levels and Colorectal Cancer in Adults: Findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination 2011-2016

Several studies have indicated an association between serum copper and zinc levels and colorectal cancer, but results were controversial. This study assessed the association of serum copper, zinc, and copper/zinc ratio with colorectal cancer in US adults aged 20 years and older through the use of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2016 data. Serum concentrations of copper and zinc were measured using inductively coupled plasma dynamic reaction cell mass spectrometry (ICP-DRC-MS). Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (ORs with CIs) were calculated for serum copper, zinc, and copper/zinc ratio by multivariate logistic regression. A total of 4663 participants (2320 males and 2343 females) with 24 colorectal cancer patients were included in the analyses. We did not observe a statistically significant association between serum copper level and colorectal cancer (top vs bottom quartile multivariate OR 1.71; 95% CI, 0.37-7.88; P for trend = 0.429). In addition, serum zinc level was also not significantly associated with colorectal cancer (top vs bottom quartile multivariate OR 0.72; 95% CI, 0.12-4.27; P for trend = 0.346). While in the age- and gender-adjusted model, there seemed to be a trend that participants with higher copper/zinc ratio level had higher odds of colorectal cancer than participants with lower copper/zinc ratio level; no statistically significant association was observed in multivariate-adjusted models. Our findings did not support a significant association between serum copper and zinc level and colorectal cancer risk in the general US population. Furthermore, large longitudinal studies should be needed to confirm these findings.

Disordered serum essential element levels are associated with increased risk of kidney tumors

Essential elements play vital roles in the regulation of carcinogenesis. We aimed to investigate the relationship between essential elements and kidney tumors. This study included 72 healthy individuals and 100 kidney tumor patients. The concentrations of cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn) were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The random forest model was used to evaluate the importance of each variable by using the randomForest package. The associations between essential elements and clinical tumor characteristics were examined by the Mann-Whitney U-test, and the log-rank test was used to assess the Kaplan-Meier curves. The levels of Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Zn in patients with kidney tumors were significantly lower. In the random forest model, the top two metallic features were Co and Zn. The Kaplan-Meier curve showed that patients with lower Co, Se, and Zn levels exhibited lower progression-free survival. In summary, this study gathered evidence that disordered essential elements are associated with kidney tumors and thus opens a new path to elucidate the etiology of kidney tumors from the perspective of environmental health and safety.

The Transcription of ZIP9 Is Associated With the Macrophage Polarization and the Pathogenesis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common digestive system cancers (DSCs) with a poor prognosis. Zinc‐regulated transporter (ZRT)/iron‐regulated transporter (IRT) like protein transporters (ZIPs) encode membrane transport proteins, which are responsible for the absorption of zinc and play important roles in the pathogenesis of various human cancers. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are important participants in the regulation of tumor microenvironment and the development of HCC. Individual role of each ZIP involved in hepatocarcinogenesis remains elusive. In this study, the transcription patterns of ZIPs in the DSCs were screened firstly through GEPIA2 database. Interestingly, the analysis of the DSCs data showed the distinct mRNA levels of ZIPs between DSCs tissues and healthy controls. Notably, the transcription levels of ZIP2, ZIP5, ZIP8, ZIP9 and ZIP14 were decreased significantly in the tissues of human liver cancer compared to paracarcinoma liver tissues. To further confirm the mRNA transcriptional changes of Zips in HCC, N-Nitrosodiethylamine (DEN) combined with carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) inducing mouse model of HCC were established. Consistently, the mRNA levels of Zip2, Zip9, and Zip14 in liver tissues of HCC induced mice were also decreased compared with the healthy controls. In addition, mouse peritoneal elucidated macrophages (PEMs)-derived M1/M2 macrophages in vitro, as well as human patients of HCC-derived TAMs, were used to examine the transcription levels of ZIPs. Our results showed that both Zip2 and Zip9 were up-regulated in M2-polarized macrophages. Zip2 transcript was also up-regulated M1-polarized macrophages, but Zip9 was slightly down-regulated. TAMs generated from human liver cancer tissues also displayed a decrease in ZIP9 transcription compared to paracarcinoma tissues. To further explore the role of Zip9 in M1/M2 polarization, the siRNA knockdown results revealed that Zip9, but not Zip2, could promote M2 macrophage polarization and impair M1 macrophage polarization. Mechanistically, Zip9 enhances phosphorylated STAT6 to promote M2 macrophage polarization but suppresses the phosphorylation of IκBα/β to inhibit M1 macrophage polarization. Together, our results indicate that ZIP9 may involve in macrophages polarity in HCC development and may be a potent new biomarker for the diagnosis of HCC.

Multivariate Investigation of Toxic and Essential Metals in the Serum from Various Types and Stages of Colorectal Cancer Patients

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is currently one of the most frequent malignant neoplasms, ranking 3rd in incidence and 2nd in mortality both in the USA and across the world. The pathogenesis of CRC is a complex interaction between genetic susceptibility and environmental factors such as exposure to metals. Therefore, the present study was intended to assess the imbalances in the concentrations of selected essential/toxic elements (Pb, Cr, Fe, Zn, As, Cd, Cu, Se, Ni, and Hg) in the serum of newly diagnosed colorectal carcinoma patients (n = 165) in comparison with counterpart controls (n = 151) by atomic absorption spectrometry after wet-acid digestion method. Serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) of the CRC patients was determined using immunoradiometric method. Body mass index (BMI) which is an established risk factor for CRC was also calculated for patients and healthy controls. Conversely, average Ni (2.721 μg/g), Cd (0.563 μg/g), As (0.539 μg/g), and Pb (1.273 μg/g) levels were significantly elevated in the serum of CRC patients compared to the healthy donors, while the average Se (7.052 μg/g), Fe (15.67 μg/g), Cu (2.033 μg/g), and Zn (8.059 μg/g) concentrations were elevated in controls. The correlation coefficients between the elements in the cancerous patients demonstrated significantly dissimilar communal relationships compared with the healthy subjects. Significant differences in the elemental levels were also showed for CRC types (primary colorectal lymphoma, gastrointestinal stromal tumor, and adenocarcinoma) and CRC stages (stage-I, stage-II, stage-III, and stage-IV) among the patients. Majority of the elements demonstrated perceptible disparities in their levels based on dietary, habitat, gender, and smoking habits of the malignant patients and healthy subjects. Multivariate methods revealed noticeably divergent apportionment among the toxic/essential elements in the cancerous patients than the healthy counterparts. Overall, the study showed significantly divergent distribution and associations of the essential and toxic elemental levels in the serum of the CRC patients in comparison with the healthy donors.

Serum and Whole Blood Cu and Zn Status in Predicting Mortality in Lung Cancer Patients

Alterations in circulating Cu and Zn are negative predictors of survival in neoplastic patients and are known during lung cancer. However, no data on predicting mortality of lung cancer patients based on the level of these elements in the blood have been presented to date. The aims of this prospective cohort study were as follows: (i) To evaluate the disturbances in serum and whole blood Cu and Zn, (ii) to assess the relationships between serum and whole blood Cu and Zn status and clinical, sociodemographic, and nutritional data, and (iii) to investigate the association of Cu and Zn status with all-cause mortality in lung cancer. Naïve-treatment lung cancer patients (n = 167) were characterized in terms of sociodemographic, clinical, and anthropometric data and dietary intake and compared with sex-matched control subjects (n = 48). Whole blood and serum Cu and Zn status was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for multiple confounders/mediators were used to estimate the association between all-cause death and Cu and Zn status. Sex, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, clinical stage, and hemoglobin, platelet, and glucose concentrations significantly differentiated Cu and Zn status. All-cause mortality in lung cancer patients was positively associated with serum Cu levels, Cu:Zn ratio, and whole blood Zn levels. However, an advanced clinical stage of disease was the strongest predictor of all-cause mortality. Circulatory status of Cu and Zn might be included in routine clinical characteristics of patients with lung cancer patients as additional prognostic variables, but only after further more detail studies.

The Multifaceted Roles of Copper in Cancer: A Trace Metal Element with Dysregulated Metabolism, but Also a Target or a Bullet for Therapy

In the human body, copper (Cu) is a major and essential player in a large number of cellular mechanisms and signaling pathways. The involvement of Cu in oxidation-reduction reactions requires close regulation of copper metabolism in order to avoid toxic effects. In many types of cancer, variations in copper protein levels have been demonstrated. These variations result in increased concentrations of intratumoral Cu and alterations in the systemic distribution of copper. Such alterations in Cu homeostasis may promote tumor growth or invasiveness or may even confer resistance to treatments. Once characterized, the dysregulated Cu metabolism is pinpointing several promising biomarkers for clinical use with prognostic or predictive capabilities. The altered Cu metabolism in cancer cells and the different responses of tumor cells to Cu are strongly supporting the development of treatments to disrupt, deplete, or increase Cu levels in tumors. The metallic nature of Cu as a chemical element is key for the development of anticancer agents via the synthesis of nanoparticles or copper-based complexes with antineoplastic properties for therapy. Finally, some of these new therapeutic strategies such as chelators or ionophores have shown promising results in a preclinical setting, and others are already in the clinic.

Correlations between 13 Trace Elements and Circulating Tumor Cells in Patients with Colorectal Cancer in Guangzhou, China

We established a method of determining 13 trace elements (TEs) in whole blood, determined the levels of the TEs in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), and examined the correlations between the TEs and circulating tumor cells (CTCs). A total of 93 CRC patients and 48 control subjects in Guangzhou, China, were included. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to measure the blood levels of 13 TEs. CTCs of 13 CRC patients were examined using CanPatrol™. The levels of Mg, Fe, Zn, Se, Sr, Mo, and Ba in CRC patients were lower than those in control subjects (all, P < 0.05). The levels of Mg, Fe, Zn, Se, and Ba decreased with increasing TNM stage. The reductions of Zn and Se levels were higher in early-stage than late-stage CRC patients. The levels of Cu and Ni were higher in CRC patients than in control subjects (both, P < 0.05). The Cu level increased with increased TNM stage, and Ni level was higher in early-stage CRC patients as compared with late-stage CRC patients. Consequently, the TE levels showed differences as the process of TNM stage of CRC patients. There were correlations between the amount of CTCs and epithelial-CTCs (E-CTCs) and interstitial-CTCs (M-CTCs) (P < 0.05). The levels of Mg, Cr, Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, Sr, and Ba were correlated with the number of CTCs (P < 0.05). Specific TE patterns in whole blood may assist in the early diagnosis of CRC. The combined determination of TE levels and CTCs may be useful as an adjunct to staging and guiding treatments.

Delineating colorectal cancer distribution, interaction, and risk prediction by environmental risk factors and serum trace elements

The burden of colorectal cancer (CRC) is increasing worldwide especially in developing countries. This phenomenon may be attributable to lifestyle, dietary and environmental risk factors. We aimed to determine the level of 25 trace elements, their interaction with environmental risk factors, and subsequently develop a risk prediction model for CRC (RPM CRC). For the discovery phase, we used a hospital-based case-control study (CRC and non-CRC patients) and in the validation phase we analysed pre-symptomatic samples of CRC patients from The Malaysian Cohort Biobank. Information on the environmental risk factors were obtained and level of 25 trace elements measured using the ICP-MS method. CRC patients had lower Zn and Se levels but higher Li, Be, Al, Co, Cu, As, Cd, Rb, Ba, Hg, Tl, and Pb levels compared to non-CRC patients. The positive interaction between red meat intake ≥ 50 g/day and Co ≥ 4.77 µg/L (AP 0.97; 95% CI 0.91, 1.03) doubled the risk of CRC. A panel of 24 trace elements can predict simultaneously and accurate of high, moderate, and low risk of CRC (accuracy 100%, AUC 1.00). This study provides a new input on possible roles for various trace elements in CRC as well as using a panel of trace elements as a screening approach to CRC.

Colorectal cancer and trace elements alteration

BACKGROUND

Trace elements have important influence on body function primarily because of the vital role they have in many physiological processes. Their alterations have been found in many disorders, including cancer. It has been well known for decades that disturbances in elemental concentration may lead to cell damaging, DNA injuries and imbalance in oxidative burden. Our study tried to determine the difference of trace elements concentrations between colorectal adenocarcinoma and adjacent healthy intestinal tissue.

METHODS

59 subjects participated in this study. Healthy colon mucosa samples and colon tumor tissue samples were obtained from patients previously diagnosed with colon carcinoma by standard diagnostic procedures. Analysis of the elements was performed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

RESULTS

The results showed that Na, K, Mg, Ca, Cu, Zn, Se, Mn, Cd, Cr and Hg significantly differ between malignant tissue of colorectal cancer (CRC) and adjacent healthy bowel tissue. We have, also, found that Cu/Zn tissue ratio was significantly higher in CRC compared to a healthy tissue and that patients with higher CRC stages had also significantly higher ratio.

CONCLUSIONS

Since this is the first such study in Balkan region, we assume that results of our study could be a good indicator of elemental alterations in colorectal cancer of Balkan population, due to similarity in lifestyle, dietary intake, pollution and exposure to toxic elements.

Serum Copper and Zinc Levels in Patients with Endometrial Cancer

The aim of the present study was to evaluate serum concentrations of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn), in relation with metabolic profile and clinicopathologic features of patients with endometrial cancer. A total of 47 women with endometrial cancer and 45 controls were eligible for the study. Clinicopathologic features and metabolic profile as well as serum copper and zinc levels were evaluated in each subject. Patients with endometrial cancer (Cu mean 3.72 ± 2.15 mg/L, median 3.54 [0.41-9.16] mg/L and Zn mean 1.83 ± 0.71 mg/L, median 1.77 [0.71-4.02] mg/L) exhibited lower Cu and Zn levels than those of controls (Cu mean 6.06 ± 1.79 mg/L, median 6.32 [2.95-9.05] mg/L and Zn mean 2.48 ± 0.89 mg/L, median 2.23 [1.23-4.54] mg/L) (p < 0.001). Cu/Zn ratio was also higher (0.85 ± 1.96 vs. 2.57 ± 0.73) in controls as compared with patients with endometrial cancer. While Cu levels showed no significant correlation with age, body mass index, gravidity, and parity, a positive correlation was found between Zn levels and parity. When cancer patients were evaluated on their own, both Cu and Zn levels showed positive correlation with age. Additionally, the cancer patients with myometrial invasion > 1/2 exhibited lower Cu levels compared with the cancer patients with myometrial invasion < 1/2. The data of the present study suggested that women with endometrial cancer are characterized by altered serum Cu and Zn levels as compared with controls. Imbalance of these trace element levels might be associated with endometrial cancer among Turkish patients.

Diagnostic potential of ionomic profile in the plasma of cervical cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Major and trace elements play an important role in human body, and it has been reported that ionomic distribution differ greatly in tumor patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy on the ionomic profile in human plasma as a potential biomarker for the therapeutic effects of cervical cancer.

METHOD

Thirty-seven patients with cervical cancer receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy were included in this study, pretherapy and post-treatment blood samples were collected and concentrations of 24 ions were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

RESULTS

The results showed that after cisplatin chemotherapy and radiotherapy, patients' plasma Pt level significantly increased, Na, Mg, P, K, Ca, Se, Cu, Zn, Se, Sr, Ba levels significantly decreased (P < 0.01), and Al, Cu ions were significantly correlated with the treatment effect (P < 0.05). In addition, the pattern of elemental correlations changed dramatically after the neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

CONCLUSION

The results indicated that the plasma ionomic profile may serve as a quick and convenient tool to reflect the therapeutic effect of cisplatin-based chemoradiotherapy in cervical cancer patients, and supplement of certain essential elements may be of great importance for the maintenance of ion homeostasis in human body and for the reduction of adverse effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Role of Zinc in Immune System and Anti-Cancer Defense Mechanisms

The human body cannot store zinc reserves, so a deficiency can arise relatively quickly, e.g., through an improper diet. Severe zinc deficiency is rare, but mild deficiencies are common around the world. Many epidemiological studies have shown a relationship between the zinc content in the diet and the risk of cancer. The anti-cancer effect of zinc is most often associated with its antioxidant properties. However, this is just one of many possibilities, including the influence of zinc on the immune system, transcription factors, cell differentiation and proliferation, DNA and RNA synthesis and repair, enzyme activation or inhibition, the regulation of cellular signaling, and the stabilization of the cell structure and membranes. This study presents selected issues regarding the current knowledge of anti-cancer mechanisms involving this element.

Serum Levels of Zinc, Copper and Ferritin in Patients with Salivary Gland Tumors

Background: Variation in serum levels of trace elements including zinc, copper and ferritin has been reported in cancer patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate these trace elements in the patients’ sera with benign and malignant salivary gland tumors (SGTs) and compare them with normal individuals. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 60 patients with SGTs including 16 pleomorphic adenoma and 44 malignant SGTs, as well as 28 healthy controls, were enrolled. Serum levels of zinc, copper and ferritin were determined by atomic absorption and ELISA methods. Data were analyzed using one way ANOVA, Chi-square, Kruskal-Wallis and Mann- Whitney tests. Results: The mean concentration of zinc, copper, ferritin was1.5± 2 ppm, 1.2± 0.5 ppm, and 96.7± 65.7 ng/ml in PA, 1.5± 1.4,1.3± 0.4, and 111.2± 112 in malignant SGTs, and1.1±0.3, 1.2± 0.23 and 124±135.8 in normal control groups. There was no statistically significant difference between the patients and control groups, and between benign and malignant SGTs (P>0.05). Conclusion: The serum levels of trace elements in SGTs were not different from normal individuals. The results might have been affected by some interventional factors. Therefore, designing cohort complementary studies might result in obtaining more accurate data.

Serum copper and zinc levels and the risk of oral cancer: A new insight based on large-scale case-control study

OBJECTIVE

Limited evidence exists on the roles of serum copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in oral cancer risk. We aimed to preliminarily explore the association between serum Cu and Zn levels and oral cancer risk with relatively large-scale samples.

METHODS

Serum Cu and Zn levels of 344 oral cancer patients and 1,122 matched healthy controls in this case-control study were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

RESULTS

Restricted cubic spline revealed the U-shaped relationship between serum Cu or Zn levels and the risk of oral cancer. Serum deficient or elevated levels of Cu were significantly associated with the risk of oral cancer: The ORs were 1.38 (95% CI: 1.01-1.89) and 2.82 (95% CI: 1.60-4.98), respectively. The positive association of serum low or high levels of Zn with oral cancer risk was also observed: The ORs were 2.72 (95% CI: 1.60-4.62) and 12.41 (95% CI: 9.09-16.93), respectively. Additionally, there were multiplicative interactions between the aforementioned trace elements and smoking.

CONCLUSIONS

This preliminary study suggests that both serum excess and deficient levels of Cu or Zn were significant correlation with oral cancer risk, which may provide a new insight on the roles of serum Cu and Zn in oral cancer.

A Copper10-Paclitaxel crystal; a medicinally active drug delivery platform

Paclitaxel is a well-known cancer drug that functions as a mitotic inhibitor. This work focuses on a copper based crystal that encapsulates the pharmaceutical agent and serves as a drug delivery agent. A Copper₁₀-Pacitaxil₁ chloride (CU₁₀PAC₁) complex is synthesized and tested against the National Cancer Institute's sixty cell line panel. The 10:1 ratio results in a crystal that was examined by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spec (MALDI-TOF-MS), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Proton (¹H) and Carbon (¹³C) Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). The potential attributes of a copper based crystal as an in vivo drug carrier for Paclitaxel are discussed.

comparison of the Serum Levels of Trace Elements in Areas with High or Low Rate of Esophageal Cancer

BACKGROUND

There is a critical role for trace elements in cancer prevention. Since northeast Iran is known as a high risk area for esophageal cancer, this study was designed to compare the serum levels of some trace elements in high and low rate areas of Golestan province.

METHODS

We used 240 fasting serum samples obtained in 2011 from eastern and western parts of Golestan province during the non-communicable diseases’ screening program. To carry out laboratory examinations, the samples were firstly deproteinated and then the concentrations of the intended elements were measured by an atomic absorption spectrometer. A total of 227 samples were used in the present study and the remaining 13 samples were excluded due to inappropriate conditions.

RESULTS

The mean serum level of zinc in the high-risk region was significantly lower than that in the low-risk region. But no significant difference was detected in serum levels of copper, magnesium, and manganese in the low-risk and high-risk regions.

CONCLUSION

As this study was an ecological study with no comparison between patients with cancer and healthy population, its results cannot be used for the general population. Therefore, complementary studies including case-control studies are suggested for further evaluation of the relationship between these elements and the incidence of esophageal cancer.