Serum parameters of iron metabolism in patients with breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
The aim of our study was to determine the incidence of anemia as evidenced by altered serum levels of iron metabolism in patients with breast cancer (n = 84), ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) (n = 29), fibroadenoma (n = 100) and healthy women (n = 14).


METHODS
Hemoglobin (Hb), serum iron, serum ferritin, serum transferrin and serum transferrin receptor were evaluated prior to surgery. No patient with breast cancer had anemia according to Hb level.


RESULTS
No significant correlations between serum iron, transferrin and transferrin receptor were ascertained. Serum ferritin was significantly elevated in patients with breast cancer. Among patients with breast cancer, a significant correlation with positive lymph node involvement was noted.


CONCLUSIONS
Elevated serum ferritin might indicate the presence of malignant disease and could be regarded as a predictor of positive lymph node involvement in patients with breast cancer.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Strasse 24, 06097 Halle, Germany. eva.ulbrich@medizin.uni-halle.de
Eva J
EJ
Ulbrich
Antje
A
Lebrecht
Ingeborg
I
Schneider
Elisabeth
E
Ludwig
Heinz
H
Koelbl
Lukas A
LA
Hefler
D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000097:blood; D044584:Carcinoma, Ductal / Q000097:blood; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D018226:Fibroadenoma / Q000097:blood; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000097:blood; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014168:Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism
D006454:Hemoglobins; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D014168:Transferrin; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron