Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the world. Breast cancer is a malignant proliferation of the epithelial cells of the ducts/lobules of the breast, most frequent in women. Many studies have shown elevated copper:zinc ratio in malignant tumours. The implications of zinc and copper in carcinogenesis could be explained by their redistribution during the neoplastic process. Considering this, the present study has been taken up with the aims to estimate serum zinc and copper levels in patients of breast cancer and to compare with that of normal healthy individuals and find out any correlation between them. This case control study was done in patients of breast cancer attending Radiotherapy OPD or admitted in the ward of RIMS Hospital from October 2016 to September 2018. In total, 90 people were included in the study; 45 cases and 45 controls. Zinc and copper levels were measured using colorimetric assay. This study found that the level of copper increased (167.53±8.8μg/dl) in cases vs (132.11±7.8μg/dl) controls and zinc decreased (58.08 ± 2.0 μg/dl) in cases vs (89.84 ± 12.5 μg/dl) controls significantly, with increased Cu/Zn ratio in cases of breast cancer as compared to controls and a significantly negative correlation was found between them. It can be concluded that copper and zinc plays a role in the pathogenesis of breast cancer and with further studies the results may be ultimately extrapolated into clinical practice.
