Serum Zn content in tumor-bearing rats treated with anticancer drugs

The serum Zn content in rats bearing Yoshida-Sarcoma, AH 66F, AH 13 or AH 109A was found to be low as compared with that in normal controls. In the rats which had received intraperitoneal inoculum of Yoshida-Sarcoma, the effects of anticancer drugs were closely related to the changes in serum Zn content. Namely, serum Zn content increased and approached the normal range almost parallel with the prolongation of survival time by anticancer drugs. As the causes responsible for the reduction in quantity of serum Zn in the tumor-bearing rats, the reduction of serum albumin content and the accumulation of Zn in the tumor tissue and organs such as the liver and kidneys were suggested.