An Evaluation of Estimation of Salivary Copper and Zinc Levels in Oral Cancer Patients of Middle Age Range: An Original Research Study

Abstract

Aim: This study aims to analyze Salivary Copper and Zinc Levels in middle-aged patients with oral cancer.

Materials and Methods: This study involved 60 patients, aged 30-55, with sore or ulcer lasting over 3 weeks and mucosal patches, seeking treatment. The participants were divided into three groups: Group 1 had 20 patients with confirmed oral squamous cell carcinoma; Group 2 had 20 patients with pre-malignant lesions, specifically oral submucous fibrosis; and Group 3 included 20 healthy individuals. Salivary copper and zinc levels were measured by collecting 2-5 ml of resting saliva, centrifuging it, and analyzing it using the ERBA CHEM 5 semi-auto analyzer. SPSS software was used for statistical comparison of means using Student’s t-test or ANOVA.

Statistical Analysis and Results: The study observed markedly elevated copper levels in individuals diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma, with a mean concentration of 250.50±62.4 µg/dl. In contrast, when examining premalignant conditions, the average copper level was significantly lower at 190.98±18.4 µg/dL. Healthy individuals exhibited the lowest copper levels, at 120.67±18.2 µg/dl. On the other hand, zinc levels presented a different trend. The zinc concentration was notably reduced in those with oral squamous cell carcinoma, recorded at 85.15±16.85 µg/dl. In individuals with premalignant lesions, the zinc levels were slightly higher at 86.19±12.56 µg/dl, while healthy individuals had the highest zinc levels among the groups, measuring 87.56±18.5 µg/dl.

Conclusion: This study found that cancer patients often have elevated serum copper levels and decreased serum zinc levels; higher copper is linked to disease progression and poor prognosis, while lower zinc is associated with greater disease severity.