Serum zinc levels in lung cancer patients.

Serum zinc concentrations were determined in 26 extensive squamous cell lung cancer patients and were tested for correlations with survival, response to therapy, nutritional status indices, and various host defense characteristics. Subnormal serum zinc levels were found in 24 of the 26 patients. The mean serum zinc concentration was 43.2/micrograms 100 ml +/- 3.6 S.E.M. (normal = 80-100 micrograms/100 ml). A significant (P = 0.007) survival advantage was demonstrated for those patients with pretreatment zinc concentrations greater than 45 micrograms%, but serum zinc levels did not correlate with response to chemotherapy (also significantly affecting survival). Decreased serum zinc concentrations were significantly associated with decreased neutrophil migration measured by the skin window technique and with decreased triceps skin fold thickness but not with any of the other host defense and nutritional induces measured. These data suggest that further studies are indicated to examine the role of serum zinc concentration as a possible sensitive prognostic characteristic and to determine if zinc administration may be of therapeutic benefit in cancer patients.