Observation on changes of trace elements and amino acids in serum of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

doi:10.16139/j.1007-9610.2025.02.09

Abstract

Abstract:

Objective To explore the changes in trace elements and amino acid profiles in serum of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) providing a reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment.Methods A total of 104 patients with HCC who underwent surgical treatment in the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery of our hospital from January 2024 to April 2024 were selected as the study group, and 139 patients with benign biliary diseases during the same period were selected as the control group. Atomic absorption spectrometry was used to detect the levels of six trace elements (copper, zinc, calcium, magnesium, iron, and lead) in the serum of both groups, and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to measure the concentrations of 21 amino acids.Results Compared with the control group, the serum copper level in the HCC group was significantly increased (P<0.05), while the levels of zinc and iron were significantly decreased (P<0.05). Amino acid profile analysis revealed that, compared with the control group, the concentrations of tyrosine, methionine, and phenylalanine in the HCC group were increased (P<0.05), while the concentrations of valine, leucine, isoleucine, glutamine, and arginine were decreased (P<0.05). Further analysis of the correlation between trace elements and amino acids with statistical differences between the groups showed that copper was negatively correlated with valine and leucine (P<0.05), while zinc and iron were positively correlated with valine, leucine, and isoleucine (P<0.01).Conclusions Imbalances in trace elements and amino acid metabolism changes are common in patients with HCC, and there may be an intrinsic connection between the two.

Key words: Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC), Trace element, Amino acid

CLC Number:

LUO Xi, JIANG Yongmei, MA Di, LU Qiuya, GU Xiaohan. Observation on changes of trace elements and amino acids in serum of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma[J]. Journal of Surgery Concepts & Practice, 2025, 30(2): 146-150.

Figures/Tables 3

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Trace elements	Control Group (n=139)	HCC Group (n=104)	t value	P value
Cu	15.2 ± 2.5	17.1 ± 3.7	4.59	<0.01
Zn	92.1 ± 13.1	87.8 ± 11.5	-2.71	<0.01
Ca	1.4 ± 0.1	1.4 ± 0.1	0.00	0.92
Mg	1.5 ± 0.1	1.5 ± 0.1	-0.64	0.52
Fe	8.1 ± 0.9	7.7 ± 1.1	-2.48	<0.05
Pb	16.8 ± 16.2	23.3 ± 62.3	1.04	0.24

Amino acid	Control group (n=139)	HCC group (n=104)	t value	P value
Glut	77.2 ± 35.5	84.8 ± 40.5	1.52	0.12
Asp	6.1 ± 1.7	6.5 ± 2.0	1.37	0.16
Asn	46.3 ± 7.8	47.1 ± 10.4	0.72	0.46
Ser	132.1 ± 28.9	134.7 ± 34.7	0.63	0.52
Lys	194.4 ± 35.0	182.3 ± 34.5	-2.69	0.08
Trp	50.8 ± 9.3	52.4 ± 13.3	0.98	0.30
Phe	63.2 ± 9.6	70.3 ± 13.1	4.68	<0.01
Met	24.8 ± 4.7	29.4 ± 8.2	5.10	<0.01
Thr	138.3 ± 36.1	144.6 ± 39.9	1.27	0.20
Leu	134.3 ± 26.2	115.2 ± 28.2	-5.39	<0.01
Ile	81.1 ± 19.1	72.6 ± 16.1	-3.78	<0.01
Val	264.2 ± 49.8	245.6 ± 54.0	-2.74	<0.05
Arg	63.4 ± 17.2	53.9 ± 18.1	-4.16	<0.01
Tyr	64.2 ± 12.3	79.0 ± 23.1	5.94	<0.01
His	86.8 ± 11.9	84.0 ± 15.0	-1.50	0.12
Orn	111.1 ± 35.3	113.1 ± 30.4	0.49	0.63
Ala	409.0 ± 96.1	396.0 ± 107.4	-0.98	0.32
Pro	170.5 ± 52.7	178.6 ± 71.2	0.98	0.31
Cit	32.2 ± 9.5	34.8 ± 14.7	1.54	0.10
Gly	229.3 ± 58.8	240.9 ± 64.9	1.43	0.15
Gln	733.8 ± 130.8	640.7 ± 167.8	-4.69	<0.01
BCAA/AAA	3.0 ± 0.5	1.8 ± 0.8	-3.86	<0.05

Correlation coefficient	Cu	Zn	Fe
Val	-0.146*	0.271^**	0.395^**
Met	-0.013	0.102	0.104
Ile	-0.064	0.180^**	0.252^**
Leu	-0.177^**	0.264^**	0.416^**
Tyr	0.016	0.121	0.173
Phe	0.026	0.122	0.105
Arg	-0.099	0.029	0.102
Gln	-0.122	-0.06	0.072