Introduction: Many epidemiological and experimental studies report a strong role of chemical carcinogens in the etiology of bladder cancer. However, involvement of trace elements in the tumorigenesis of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder has been poorly investigated. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between zinc, copper and bladder cancer. Materials and Methods: Zinc and copper concentration and Cu/Zn ratio in two 36-sample series of bladder cancer tissue and sera from patients with this neoplasm were matched with those of the control group. The amount of trace elements in every tissue sample was determined using atomic absorption spectrometry. This was correlated with tumor stage. Results: While the copper concentrations reached statistically higher values in the bladder cancer tissue, the zinc levels in the sera and bladder tissue of the patients with this carcinoma were substantially lower as compared to those of the control group. The serum Cu/Zn ratio was significantly higher in the bladder cancer group and this increase was greater in the patients with muscle-invasive neoplasm. Conclusions: The results obtained suggest a relationship between trace elements and the bladder cancer.

Keywords:
Bladder cancer, Zinc, Copper, Cu/Zn ratio
1.
Jemal A, Murray T, Ward E, Samuels A, Tiwari RC, Ghafoor A, Feuer EJ, Thun MJ: Cancer statistics, 2005. CA Cancer J Clin 2005;55:10–30.
2.
Morrison AS, Cole P: Epidemiology of bladder cancer. Urol Clin North Am 1976;3:13–29.
3.
Golabek T, Darewicz B, Borawska M, Markiewicz R, Socha K, Kudelski J: Lead concentration in the bladder tissue and blood of patients with bladder cancer. Scand J Urol Nephrol 2009;25:1–4.
4.
Perk H, Serel TA, Koşar A, Deniz N, Sayin A: Analysis of the trace element contents of inner nucleus and outer crust parts of urinary calculi. Urol Int 2002;68:286–290.
5.
Grases F, Ruiz J, Costa-Bauzá AC, Coll R, Conte A: Zinc, copper and oxalocalcic urolithiasis. Urol Int 1993;50:205–208.
6.
Mahabir S, Forman MR, Barerra SL, Dong YQ, Spitz MR, Wei Q: Joint effects of dietary trace metals and DNA repair capacity in lung cancer risk. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16:2756–2762.
7.
Ho E: Zinc deficiency, DNA damage and cancer risk. J Nutr Biochem 2004;15:572–578.
8.
Margalioth EJ, Schenker JG, Chevion M: Copper and zinc levels in normal and malignant tissues. Cancer 1983;52:868–872.
9.
Gupta SK, Singh SP, Shukla VK: Copper, zinc, and Cu/Zn ratio in carcinoma of the gallbladder. J Surg Oncol 2005;91:204–208.
10.
Gupta SK, Shukla VK, Vaidya MP, Roy SK, Gupta S: Serum trace elements and Cu/Zn ratio in breast cancer patients. J Surg Oncol 1991;46:178–181.
11.
Mazdak H, Yazdekhasti F, Movahedian A, Mirkheshti N, Shafieian M: The comparative study of serum iron, copper, and zinc levels between bladder cancer patients and a control group. Int Urol Nephrol 2010;42:89–93.
12.
Lin CN, Wang LH, Shen KH: Determining urinary trace elements (Cu, Zn, Pb, As, and Se) in patients with bladder cancer. J Clin Lab Anal 2009;23:192–195.
13.
Han C, Jing J, Zhao X, Guo J, Zheng S, Du L: Serum and tissue levels of six trace elements and copper/zinc ratio in patients with cervical cancer and uterine myoma. Biol Trace Elem Res 2003;94:113–122.
14.
Boz A, Evliyaoğlu O, Yildirim M, Erkan N, Karaca B: The value of serum zinc, copper, ceruloplasmin levels in patients with gastrointestinal tract cancers. Turk J Gastroenterol 2005;16:81–84.
15.
Díez M, Arroyo M, Cerdàn FJ, Muñoz M, Martin MA, Balibrea JL: Serum and tissue trace metal levels in lung cancer. Oncology 1989;46:230–234.
16.
Maverakis E, Fung MA, Lynch PJ, Draznin M, Michael DJ, Ruben B, Fazel N: Acrodermatitis enteropathica and an overview of zinc metabolism. J Am Acad Dermatol 2007;56:116–124.
17.
Prasad AS: Zinc in human health: effect of zinc on immune cells. Mol Med 2008;14:353–357.
18.
O’Connor JM: Trace elements and DNA damage. Biochem Soc Trans 2001;29:354–357.
19.
Huang YL, Sheu JY, Lin TH: Association between oxidative stress and changes of trace elements in patients with breast cancer. Clin Biochem 1999;32:131–136.
20.
Smith JC Jr, McDaniel EG, Fan FF, Halsted JA: Zinc: a trace element essential in vitamin A metabolism. Science 1973;181:954–955.
21.
Christian P, West KP Jr: Interactions between zinc and vitamin A: an update. Am J Clin Nutr 1998;68:435S–441S.
22.
Kamat AM, Lamm DL: Chemoprevention of urological cancer. J Urol 1999;161:1748–1760.
23.
Samuni A, Chevion M, Czapski G: Unusual copper-induced sensitization of the biological damage due to superoxide radicals. J Biol Chem 1981;256:12632–12635.
24.
Eatock MM, Schätzlein A, Kaye SB: Tumour vasculature as a target for anticancer therapy. Cancer Treat Rev 2000;26:191–204.
25.
Oberley LW, Buettner GR: Role of superoxide dismutase in cancer: a review. Cancer Res 1979;39:1141–1149.
© 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel
2012
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.