Resumo

CELEDON, Paola et al. Niveles séricos de cobre en pacientes: con enfermedad benigna y cáncer de mama. Rev. venez. oncol. [online]. 2005, vol.17, n.1, pp.18-24. ISSN 0798-0582.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to determine the serum copper levels in patients with benign and malignant breast lesions and in healthy controls. METHODS: We realized a prospective study where we compared the serum copper levels between 30 patients with breast cancer, 15 with benign breast diseases and 15 controls were evaluated. The serum copper levels were measured by a flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Statistical test were performed to correlate the results and the data. RESULTS: The copper levels were higher in patients with breast cancer (P< 0.05) in contrast to patients with benign lesions and the controls. There were no differences between the group with benign disease and the controls. CONCLUSIONS: The copper could be use as an index of a malignant disease in the evaluation and follow up of breast cancer patients.

Palavras-chave : Cancer; breast; copper.