Serum levels of selenium, manganese, copper, and iron in colorectal cancer patients

This article describes a study in which four trace elements (Se, Mn, Cu, and Fe) were analyzed in the blood serum of the patients with colorectal cancer from the Moravian region of the Czech Republic. Atomic absorption spectrometry with graphite furnace atomization was used for analysis of selenium and manganese and with flame atomization for analysis of copper and iron. The observed serum concentrations in adenocarcinoma colorectal patients of selenium were significantly lower (41.8 +/- 11.6 mug/L) and those of manganese (16.3 +/- 4.5 mug/L) and iron (2.89 +/- 1.23 mg/L) were significantly higher as compared to the age-matched control group. Copper serum content (0.95 +/- 0.28 mg/L) did not significantly differ as compared to healthy population.