Urinary zinc levels in patients with superficial bladder cancer

Urinary zinc levels were determined in 30 healthy people and 42 patients with bladder cancer on admission to hospital. There was a significant difference in values between the two groups (p < 0.001). The patient group was classified according to stage, grade, multiplicity and recurrence. No significant difference was found between these groups but each group showed a significant difference in comparison with the control group. Patients were treated by transurethral resection (TURT) and then classified according to intravesical chemotherapy [epirubicin (n = 12), BCG (n = 20), interferon alpha-2 (n = 10)]. One month after treatment, 24-h urinary zinc excretion was determined. When this value was compared to the excretion of patients before treatment a significant decrease was observed (p < 0.001). However, no significant differences were found between the treatment groups. The increase in urinary zinc excretion may be related to the activity of the tumor and determination may be of value during follow up.