Nassr Eldin M.A. Shrif
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate serum levels of iron, zinc in Sudanese women with breast malignancy.
Methods: Serum levels of iron, zinc were estimated by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in serum samples of 60 breast cancer patient on different stages and gender matched 40 healthy individuals. The test groups were classified according to stage of disease in to three stages (stage one, stage two an stage three). The (mean ± SD) was calculated. T. test or ANOVA was used for comparison between groups using SPSS v16.
Result: The serum zinc in patients and controls respectively were (0.54±0.30, 1.09±0.23 mmol/l) and serum iron patients and controls respectively were (0.55±0.34, 1.04±0.28 mmol/l). Serum zinc and iron were significantly lower in women with breast cancer compare to healthy women (p. value <0.000 and 0.000) respectively. There were statistically significant differences of serum level of zinc and iron between three stages: Zinc (Stage 1: 0.918±0.25) vs (Stage 2: 0.443±0.05) vs (Stage 3: 0.259±0.06) (p. value <0.000 and 0.037) respectively. Iron (Stage 1: 0.954±0.26) vs (Stage 2: 0.433±0.06) vs (Stage 3: 0.239±0.07) (p. value <0.000 and 0.000) respectively.
Conclusion: The serum level of zinc and iron were significantly lower in women with breast cancer and significant with different stage of disease. Zinc and iron were lower in stage three, two and one respectively.
