OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between the changes of trace elements and lymphatic metastasis in gastric carcinoma.

METHODSTrace elements including Fe, Mg, Mn, Ca, Cu, Zn, Se were measured in primary gastric carcinoma and regional lymph nodes from 40 patients with gastric carcinoma, and compared among the primary tumor, metastatic, and non-metastatic nodes.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in the contents of Fe, Mg, Mn and Ca among primary gastric tumors, regional lymph nodes with or without metastasis (P=0.372 - 0.741, P > 005), and no significant differences in the contents of all 7 trace elements between primary tumors and metastatic lymph nodes (P=0.15 - 0.59, P > 005). Compared with metastatic lymph nodes, the contents of Zn, Se significantly decreased, while Cu and Cu/Zn significantly increased (P=0.001 - 0.009, P< 0.01) in non-metastatic lymph nodes. The content of Zn in N2 positive lymph nodes was significant lower than that in N1 positive nodes (P=0.027). There were no significant difference in the contents of all 7 elements between intestinal type and diffuse type (P=0.149 - 0.758, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLymphatic metastasis of gastric cancer is concomitant with the changes of trace elements, and the changes of Zn, Cu, Se may be related with lymphatic metastasis.