Serum copper level in gynecologic malignancies.

Serum copper level was determined before operation in 179 patients with various histologically proved gynecologic tumors: malignant, benign, or metastases to the ovary. Serum copper level was significantly higher (p less than 0.01) in all groups of patients with cancer and in the benign group when compared with control subjects. Serum copper level correlated well with stage of cancer disease (r = 0.70 to 0.79) except for ovarian carcinoma, in which serum copper level was already significantly elevated in Stages I and II. The sensitivity of serum copper level greater than 150 micrograms/dl in detecting malignancy was 87% to 100% in late cancer stages in all malignancies. Our data imply that the addition of serum copper level determination to other screening tests could increase their sensitivity.