Diagnostic value of the copper/zinc ratio in hepatocellular carcinoma: a case control study

Background:

The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of the copper/zinc ratio in the evaluation of a group of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: A total of 105 patients were studied and separated into three groups: group I (n = 40), patients with HCC, group II (n = 25), patients with liver cirrhosis, and group III (n = 40), patients with benign digestive disease. Serum levels of copper and zinc were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Results: The serum levels of copper (μg/dl) in patients with HCC (97.4 ± 27.2; P < 0.05) were significantly higher than those in patients with liver cirrhosis (73.7 ± 17.5) or benign digestive disease (77.1 ± 20.8), and the serum levels of zinc (μg/dl) were significantly lower (71.6 ± 30.5; P < 0.05) than those in patients with benign digestive disease (81.7 ± 17.7 μg/dl) and were similar to those in cirrhotic patients (68.5 ± 17.1). The Cu/Zn ratio was also significantly higher in patients with HCC (1.52 ± 0.64; P < 0.05) than in patients with liver cirrhosis (1.06 ± 0.2) or patients with benign digestive disease (0.95 ± 0.39). Considering a cutoff value of 1.15, the sensitivity of the Cu/Zn ratio was 87.5%, with a specificity of 86.1%, a positive predictive value of 79.5%, and a negative predictive value of 91.8%. Conclusions: The Cu/Zn ratio was found to be significantly higher in patients with HCC compared with that in age and sex-matched controls, with a sensitivity of 87.5%; this ratio might be useful in the evaluation of suspected hepatocellular malignancy.