[Changes in magnesium and calcium levels in blood and stomach tissue of patients with stomach cancer].

This study was performed to evaluate changes in Magnesium (Mg) and Calcium (Ca) levels in blood and cancerous stomach tissue of patients with stomach cancer, who were classified into four stages of malignancy and three groups of metastatic category. Mg and Ca were determined with atomic absorption spectrophotometer after blood and stomach tissue were digested with nitric and perchloric acid. Significantly high Mg levels in the early stages were found both in plasma and in whole blood. On the other hand, significantly low Ca levels were found in blood plasma in most stages and in all metastatic groups. By contrast, significantly high Ca levels were observed in whole blood in later malignant stages and in two metastatic groups. Significantly high Mg and low Ca levels were found in cancerous stomach tissue in patients with stomach cancer, as compared to their normal stomach tissue. The same tendencies were observed in each malignant stages and metastatic groups. These changes in Mg and Ca levels in blood and cancerous stomach tissue may reflect inherent peculiarities of stomach cancer.