SERUM ZINC LEVELS ARE INCREASED IN MELANOMA PATIENTS

We studied the levels of serum copper and zinc as possible diagnostic factors or markers for the early detection of patients with melanoma, Levels were determined in 35 melanoma patients at various clinical sta ges and in 39 healthy persons. Measurements were performed by atomic a bsorption spectroscopy using 5100-PC-Perkin-Elmer equipment. We found that serum copper levels were very similar in the melanoma patients an d the healthy individuals, the medium values being 118.32 +/- 25.32 mu g/dl and 117.94 +/- 28.01 mu g/dl, respectively, Therefore, no signif icant differences were observed with regard to copper levels. On the o ther hand, we obtained a medium value of 82.32 +/- 25.38 mu g/dl for s erum zinc levels in the melanoma patients and 56.72+/-11.79 mu g/dl in the healthy persons, which represents a very significant increase in the serum levels of zinc in melanoma patients (P < 0,0001). A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve statistical analysis was also pe rformed; the cut-off value obtained was 60.9 mu g/dl. According to our results, zinc is increased in 86.5% of melanoma patients. Although fu rther investigations are needed to assess its value in prognosis and f ollow-up, evaluation of serum zinc level could be a good tool to check for the presence of melanoma. (C) 1998 Lippincott-Raven Publishers.