Value of serum copper measurement in lymphomas and several other malignancies

Abstract

Of 42 patients with lymphomas (Hodgkin's disease, reticulum cell sarcoma and lymphosarcoma) 30 (69%) had raised serum copper concentrations. Twenty-three of 24 who had generalized disease had increased serum copper level and, of the 18 with localized disease, 12 had normal, six had raised serum copper. In all, the clinical result of the treatment given to the patient correlated with the alteration in serum copper. The findings were the same for Hodgkin's disease, lymphosarcoma, and reticulum cell sarcoma. Serum copper was found to be greatly elevated also in multiple myeloma, and lymphoepithelial tumors (Schminke tumor). These observations suggest that serum copper measurements can be used as prognostic and theraputic index, and that this is a useful auxiliary test in the management of patients with lymphomas.