Concentration of Zinc and Zinc-Copper Superoxide Dismutase j Activity in Red Blood Cells in Normals and Children with Cancer

Summary: Zinc concentrations and Cu, Zn Superoxide dismutase activity in erythrocytes were investigated in 138 healthy children and in 35 children with cancer. The mean zinc concentration in the erythrocytes of healthy children was found to be age-dependent. In the youngest group (children up to l year of age) the zinc concentration in erythrocytes is 18.8 + 3.4 μg/g Hb (5.89 + 1.23 mg/1 packed cells), which is significantly lower than in other age groups. A strong logarithmic correlation (r = 0.327, p < 0.0001 and r = 0.436, p < 0.00001) was found between age and zinc concentration in erythrocytes, expressed s μg/g Hb and s mg/1 packed red cells, respectively. Cancer children were divided into two groups (neuro- and nephroblastoma). In the group of children with neuroblastoma no statistical differences in zinc concentration or enzyme activity were observed. In the patients with nephroblastoma, significantly higher zinc concentrations (p < 0.05) were observed in erythrocytes. The changes of zinc concentration re accompanied by significant (p < 0.02) decreases of enzyme activity. In this group of cancer children, statistic lly significant differences were observed in the zinc concentrations in erythrocytes (μ$/ § Hb) between the second and the third stages of the disease. No correlation was observed between the concentration of zinc and enzyme activity in healthy children or in cancer children. Introduction in males, poor appetite, mental lethargy and ski