ACUTE-PHASE REACTANTS AND PLASMA TRACE-ELEMENT CONCENTRATIONS IN NONSMALL CELL LUNG-CANCER PATIENTS AND CONTROLS

This study examined the effect of an acute-phase response on plasma tr ace element concentrations of nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patien ts. In normal subjects (n = 13) and NSCLC patients (n = 22), fasting c oncentrations of albumin, C-reactive protein, the trace elements iron, zinc, copper, and selenium, and their associated proteins transferrin , albumin, ceruloplasmin, and glutathione peroxidase were measured. Th e NSCLC patients were subdivided into two equal groups depending on wh ether they had a C-reactive protein concentration <35 mg/l (Group I) o r >35 mg/l (Group 2). Circulating zinc, iron, and transferrin concentr a tions were significantly lower-in NSCLC Group I than in the control group (p < 0.05). Circulating concentrations of iron, zinc, and the bi nding proteins transferrin and albumin were significantly lower in NSC LC Group 2 than in the control group and NSCLC Group I (zinc not signi ficantly different) (p < 0.01). In contrast, circulating concentration s of copper and its binding protein ceruloplasmin were significantly i ncreased in NSCLC Group 2 compared with NSCLC Group I and the control group (p < 0.01). Additionally plasma selenium and glutathione peroxid ase concentrations were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in NSCLC Group 2 than in NSCLC Group I and the control group. In the NSCLC patients t here were significant negative correlations between concentrations of C-reactive protein and iron, transferrin, zinc, albumin, and selenium (p < 0.05). Furthermore, there were also significant positive correlat ions between C-reactive protein and copper (r = 0.788, p < 0.001) and ceruloplasmin (r = 0.831, p < 0.001) concentrations. The presence of a n acute-phase response has implications for the interpretation of circ ulating trace element concentrations, the status of patients with NSCL C, and supplementation with trace-elements in patients with NSCLC.