Zinc plays an important role in maintaining healthy cells, says Omer Kucuk, MD, professor of internal medicine. Not only is zinc essential in regulating the activities of 300 enzymes, but 1400 zinc-finger proteins are involved in gene expression of various proteins. Low zinc levels have recently been associated with the development of esophageal and head/neck cancer. Supporting that claim are co-investigator Dr. Ananda Prasad’s studies which have shown that as much as 45 to 65 percent of patients with head and neck cancer may have zinc deficiencies.
To further this research, Drs. Kucuk and Prasad were recently awarded a two-year grant from the Cancer Treatment Research Foundation to study "Zinc Supplementation Tria l of Patients with Head/Neck Cancer." They hypothesize that zinc supplements will improve immune functions, decrease incidence of infections, and decrease morbidity of this disease. The molecular explanation for the hypothesis is that zinc deficient cancer patients have an imbalance between the functions of TH1 and TH2 cells and that the T cell populations are abnormal as reported earlier by Dr. Prasad and his colleagues. It is Dr. Kucuk’s hope, however, that zinc supplements can help correct these complications.
Background for this research came from the recognition that optimal treatment of advanced head and neck cancer is often compromised by the patient’s poor nutrition. Approximately 30-40 percent of patients with advanced head and neck cancer have severe malnutrition, and an additional 20-30 percent have moderate malnutrition. Zinc deficiency develops quickly in malnourished patients, because there are no zinc storage sites in the human body. Low zinc levels may have a profound impact on treatment morbidity, efficacy and overall cancer prognosis. Furthermore, zinc deficiency can cause weight loss, abnormal cellular immune functions, hypogeusia, and difficulty in wound healing--all of which occur frequently in malnourished head and neck cancer patients.
Because radiation and chemotherapy are better tolerated and more effective in patients with good nutritional balance, Dr. Kucuk will make sure that zinc levels are monitored and maintained to make treatment options most beneficial. Drs. Kucuk and Prasad are working collaboratively with Drs. Robert Mathog, Frances Beck, and other investigators from Wayne State University/Karmanos Cancer Institute.