부산대학교 도서관

Background: The essential trace elements copper and zinc, and their ratio (copper/zinc), are important for maintaining redox homeostasis. Previous studies suggest that these elements may impact breast cancer survival. However, no epidemiological study has so far been conducted on the potential association between copper and copper/zinc levels and survival after breast cancer diagnosis. In this study, we aimed to examine the relationship between serum copper, zinc and copper/zinc levels and survival following breast cancer diagnosis. Patients and methods: The Sweden Cancerome Analysis Network – Breast Initiative (SCAN-B) is a population-based cohort study including multiple participating hospitals in Sweden. A total of 1998 patients diagnosed with primary invasive breast cancer were followed for approximately nine years. Serum levels of copper and zinc and their ratio at the time of diagnosis was analyzed in relation to breast cancer survival using multivariate Cox regression, yielding hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals. Results: A higher copper/zinc ratio was associated with lower overall survival after breast cancer diagnosis. Comparing patients with a copper/zinc ratio in quartile 4 vs 1, the crude HR was 2.29 (1.65–3.19) (Ptrend