M. Hronek et al., The association between specific nutritional antioxidants and manifestation of colorectal cancer, NUTRITION, 16(3), 2000, pp. 189-191
Determination of specific antioxidants for examination of oxidative balance
and immune responses may be of value in the early diagnosis of colorectal
cancer. In the present report, we investigated urinary excretion of zinc, c
opper, and neopterin and serum levels of vitamins A, C, and E in 30 patient
s (age = 64 +/- 12 y) with colorectal cancer at the time of diagnosis and i
n 30 control subjects (age = 61 +/- 11 y) with benign disorders not associa
ted with a systemic inflammatory response. Urinary excretion of zinc, coppe
r, and neopterin was significantly elevated, and serum concentration of vit
amin A was decreased in patients with colorectal cancer; these changes are
characteristics of systemic immune activation. These phenomena may be of us
e for the detection of tumor progression and immune response to neoplasm. (
C) Elsevier Science Inc. 2000.