The role of copper in drug-resistant murine and human tumors

Abstract

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is still a major threat to successful clinical application of cancer chemotherapy. Copper plays an important role in biological systems, and copper is also involved in carcinogenesis. In the present investigation, we addressed the question whether metal copper might be involved in drug resistance of murine and human tumors. By means of atomic absorption spectroscopy, we determined serum copper concentrations. We found that the blood serum of tumor-bearing mice contained higher amounts of copper than healthy mice with tumors. Secondly, mice bearing doxorubicin-resistant Ehrlich ascites carcinoma- or cyclophosphamide-resistant Lewis lung carcinoma contained more copper in their serum than mice bearing the corresponding drug-sensitive parental tumors. Furthermore, the analysis of patients with breast cancer, colon carcinoma or lung cancer showed that the serum copper contents were higher in patients not responding to chemotherapy when compared to patients whose tumors responded to treatment. The copper levels in serum of healthy volunteers were lower than in cancer patients irrespective of their response to chemotherapy. Our results imply that the level of serum copper may be considered as a biomarker for treatment response.

Serum Levels of Trace Elements in Patients with Prostate Cancer

“…As it is suggested that copper induces angiogenesis, it can potentially cause growth in prostate cancer by improving blood supply to tumor. This can explain increased Cu levels in involved tissues (Uauy et al, 1998;Majumder et al, 2009). In a previous study, Cu levels found to be slightly higher in tissues with prostate cancer compared to those from benign prostate specimens (Yaman et al, 2005).…”

Association between Trace Element and Heavy Metal Levels in Hair and Nail with Prostate Cancer

“…Additionally, because copper is expected to initiate angiogenesis, elevated concentration of this element is likely to promote prostate cancer by increasing the blood supply for tumour growth. This explains an increase in Cu levels in cancer-affected tissues in malignancies (Uauy et al, 1998;Majumder et al, 2009).…”

Disturbed homeostasis of zinc and other essential elements in the prostate gland dependent on the character of pathological lesions

“…Cu mediates the ''involvement'' of cellular proliferation via the activation of angiogenic growth factors (Majumder et al 2009). Cu implication in the carcinogenic process, may be also linked with its ability to bind to some proteins and thus to acquire the angiogenic activity.…”