Iron, copper, and zinc liver tissue levels in patients with malignant lymphomas

Abstract

Levels of iron, copper, and zinc in liver tissue and of copper in serum were studied in 53 cases of untreated malignant lymphoma (14 cases of Hodgkin's disease and 17 of lymphocytic and 22 of histiocytic lymphoma). The values were compared with the levels of these metals in the liver tissue of 23 healthy persons. Liver tissue was obtained by means of percutaneous biopsy examination with a Menghini needle. Part of the samples was used for histologic examination, and the remainder for metal level determination. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used in determining metal levels in dry liver tissue and in sera. In all malignant lymphoma patients, a significantly higher serum copper level was established (P < 0.05). A lower iron level in liver tissue was only found in those patients with lymphocytic lymphomas without a lymphomatous process in the liver (P < 0.05), while lymphomatous hepatic infiltration was associated with a higher iron level and lower copper level (P < 9.05). Significant changes in liver zinc levels were only proved by higher levels of this metal in patients with histiocytic lymphoma and lymphomatous hepatic infiltration (P < 0.05). The only redistribution of copper between the serum and liver tissue was found in those patients with lymphocytic lymphomas and lymphomatous hepatic infiltration.

Targeting increased copper levels in diethylnitrosamine induced hepatocellular carcinoma cells in rats by epigallocatechin-3-gallate

“…The fact that copper levels, both in serum and tissue, are elevated in various malignancies has been known for several decades [1,2,4]. There is a considerable body of evidence to indicate that copper is required for tumour angiogenesis [30].…”

“…Elevation of copper levels in the serum and blood of patients with malignancies is well documented [1][2][3][4]. Studies with plant-derived polyphenols such as epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) [5,6] show that they are potent inducers of apoptosis in malignant cells, whereas normal cells are refractory to this effect.…”

Effects of Formaldehyde Inhalation on Zinc, Copper and Iron Concentrations in Liver and Kidney of Male Rats

“…In addition, zinc concentration in normal tissues surrounding the secondary liver cancers was statistically higher than normal controls. Hence, differences in Zn concentration may cause some health problems [23,24].…”

Mobilization of copper ions in human peripheral lymphocytes by catechins leading to oxidative DNA breakage: A structure activity study

“…It may be mentioned that chromatin bound copper can be mobilized by copper chelators such as 1,10-phenanthroline to cause internucleosomal DNA fragmentation [23]. It is well evidenced that serum and tissue copper levels are considerably elevated in cancer patients [24][25][26][27]. Such a mechanism would be independent of receptor and mitochondria mediated programmed cell death [3,28].…”