Skip to main content

Urinary zinc excretion and acute phase response in cancer patients

The clinical investigator volume 72, pages 1012–1014 (1994)Cite this article

Abstract

We investigated urinary zinc and serum levels of C-reactive protein, alpha-1 acid glycoprotein, haptoglobin, transferrin and prealbumin in 55 patients with solid tumors and 20 controls. Urinary zinc, serum C-reactive protein, alpha-1 acid glycoprotein and haptoglobin were significantly higher, and serum prealbumin was significantly lower in cancer patients. A significant positive correlation between urinary zinc and C-reactive protein, alpha-1 acid glycoprotein and haptoglobin, as well as a negative correlation with transferrin and prealbumin were observed. Hyperzincuria in cancer patients appears to be linked to the acute phase response. Our data provide further evidence implicating systemic inflammatory response in increased urinary zinc excretion.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  1. Alfrey AC, Froment DH, Hammond WS (1989) Role of iron in the tubulo-interstitial injury in nephrotoxic serum nephritis. Kidney Int 36:753–759

    Google Scholar 

  2. Allen JI, Bell E, Boosalis MG, Oken MM, McClain C, Levine AS, Morley JE (1985) Association between urinary zinc excretion and lymphocyte dysfunction in patients with lung cancer. Am J Med 79:209–215

    Google Scholar 

  3. Boosalis MG, Solem LD, Cerra FB, Konstantinides F, Ahrenholz DH, McCall JT, McClain CJ (1991) Increased urinary zinc excretion after thermal injury. J Lab Clin Med 118:538–545

    Google Scholar 

  4. Bray TM, Bettger WJ (1990) The physiological role of zinc as an antioxidant. Free Radic Biol Med 8:281–291

    Google Scholar 

  5. Caversio J, Rizzoli R, Dayer J-M, Bonjour J-P (1987) Interleukin-1 decreases renal sodium reabsorption: possible mechanism of endotoxin-induced natriuresis. Am J Physiol 252:F943-F946

    Google Scholar 

  6. Chmelnicka J, Szymanska JA, Brzeznicka EA, Kaluzinski A (1992) Changes in concentration of essential metals in kidneys and urine as indices of gentamycin nephrotoxicity in female Wistar rats. Pharmacol Toxicol 71:185–189

    Google Scholar 

  7. Fells GS, Fleck A, Cuthberson DP, Queen K, Morrison C, Bessent RG, Husain SL (1973) Urinary zinc levels as an indication of muscle catabolism. Lancet 1:281–282

    Google Scholar 

  8. Heinrich PC, Castell JV, Andus T (1990) Interleukin-6 and the acute phase response. Biochem J 265:621–636

    Google Scholar 

  9. Honnorat J, Accominotti M, Broussolle C, Fleuret A-C, Vallon J-J, Orgiazzi J (1992) Effects of diabetes mellitus type and treatment on zinc status in diabetes mellitus. Biol Trace Elem Res 32:311–316

    Google Scholar 

  10. Horcicko J, Borovansky J, Kubikova M, Duchon J, Duchkova H (1980) Urinary excretion of zinc and magnesium in malignant melanoma. Clin Chim Acta 104:377–380

    Google Scholar 

  11. Kirby KA, Rothenburg BA, Victery W, Vander AJ, Kluger MJ (1982) Urinary excretion of zinc and iron following injection of bacteria in the unanesthetized rabbit. Mineral Electrolyte Metab 7:250–256

    Google Scholar 

  12. Klaiman AP, Victery W, Kluger MJ, Vander AJ (1981) Urinary excretion of dead bacteria in dog. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 167:165–171

    Google Scholar 

  13. Mahajan SK, Abraham J, Migdal SD, Abu-Hamdan DK, McDonald FD (1984) Effect of renal transplantation on zinc metabolism and taste acuity in uremia. Transplantation 38:599–602

    Google Scholar 

  14. Melichar B (1993) Association between urinary zinc and neopterin excretion: a manifestation of the acute phase response in the kidney? Pteridines 4:174–177

    Google Scholar 

  15. Melichar B, Zeimet A, Artner-Dworzak E, Schrocknadel H, Marth C, Wachter H, Fuchs D (1993) Association between increased urinary zinc and neopterin concentrations in women with gynecological cancer. Tumor Diagn Ther 14:110–112

    Google Scholar 

  16. Paller MS, Hedlund BE (1988) Role of iron in postischemic renal injury in the rat. Kidney Int 34:474–480

    Google Scholar 

  17. Poll T van der, Sauerwein HP (1993) Tumor necrosis factor-alpha: its role in the metabolic response to sepsis. Clin Sci 84:247–256

    Google Scholar 

  18. Voyatzoglou V, Mountokalakis T, Tsata-Voyatzoglou V, Koutselinis A, Skalkeas G (1982) Serum zinc levels and urinary zinc excretion in patients with bronchogenic carcinoma. Am J Surg 144:355–358

    Google Scholar 

  19. Weinstein PS, Skinner M, Sipe JD, Lokich JJ, Zamcheck N, Cohen AS (1984) Acute-phase proteins or tumor markers: the role of SAA, SAP, CRP and CEA as indicators of metastasis in a broad spectrum of neoplastic diseases. Scand J Immunol 19:193–198

    Google Scholar 

  20. Winrow VR, Winyard PG, Morris CJ, Blake DR (1993) Free radicals in inflammation: second messengers and mediators of tissue destruction. Br Med Bull 49:506–522

    Google Scholar 

  21. Yuzbasiyan-Gurkan VA, Brewer GJ, Vader AJ, Guenther MJ, Prasad AS (1989) Net renal tubular reabsorption of zinc in healthy man and impaired handling in sickle cell anemia. Am J Hematol 31:87–90

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Second Department of Internal Medicine, Charles University Medical School, Pospisilova 365, CZ-500 36, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic

    B. Melichar & M. Tichy

  2. Department of Surgery, Charles University Medical School, Pospisilova 365, CZ-50036, Hradec Kralove

    P. Jandik, J. Mergancova & Z. Voboril

  3. Xenobiochemic Laboratory, Regional Hygiene Station, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic

    F. Malir

Authors
  1. B. Melichar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. P. Jandik
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Tichy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. F. Malir
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. J. Mergancova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Z. Voboril
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Correspondence to: B. Melichar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Melichar, B., Jandik, P., Tichy, M. et al. Urinary zinc excretion and acute phase response in cancer patients. Clin Investig 72, 1012–1014 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00577746

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00577746

Key words

  • Acute phase response
  • Alpha-1 acid glycoprotein
  • Cancer
  • C-reactive protein
  • Haptoglobin
  • Prealbumin
  • Transferrin
  • Urine zinc