Serum ultrafiltrable copper, total copper and caeruloplasmin concentrations in gynaecological carcinomas

Serum copper and caeruloplasmin concentrations are elevated in various carcinomas, but it is not known whether the rise in serum copper is due to elevation of caeruloplasmin alone or whether it is also due to the elevation of 'free' copper. We therefore determined ultrafiltrable copper to answer this question. Serum ultrafiltrate was prepared using the Amicon micropartition system and ultrafiltrable (free) copper was determined by flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Serum total copper was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry and caeruloplasmin by rate nephelometry. There was no significant difference in the ultrafiltrable copper concentration between patients with gynaecological tumours and control subjects. However, total copper and caeruloplasmin concentrations were significantly elevated in cancer patients compared with control subjects. In contrast to total copper and caeruloplasmin concentrations, ultrafiltrable copper concentrations showed no significant increase with increase in the stage of the cancer.