Plasma homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12 levels in patients with laryngeal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To determine plasma levels of homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12 in patients with laryngeal cancer and a control group.


METHODS
Analysis of homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12 levels in 25 consecutive untreated patients with laryngeal carcinoma and 80 healthy control participants. The study and control groups were subdivided into smokers, ex-smokers, and nonsmokers, as well as drinkers and nondrinkers.


METHODS
The AxSYM system was used to measure total homocysteine levels, and the ARCHITECT system (both Abbott-Diagnostics Division) was used to measure folate and vitamin B12 levels.


METHODS
Homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12 levels.


RESULTS
The mean (SD) level of total homocysteine in patients with laryngeal carcinoma was 2.84 (1.62) mg/L vs 0.99 (0.24) mg/L in the control group (P <.001). The mean (SD) folate plasma level was 4.3 (2.2) ng/mL vs 7.9 (2.4) ng/mL (P <.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Metabolic alterations in homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12 levels, especially hypofolatemia, could be associated with laryngeal cancer. Lengthier follow-up studies and larger groups of patients will help determine the real role of these metabolic alterations.
Nacci
Andrea
A
Third Otorhinolaryngology Unit, Department of Neurosciences, University of Pisa, Via Savi No. 10, 56126 Pisa, Italy. a.nacci@med.unipi.it
Dallan
Iacopo
I
Bruschini
Luca
L
Traino
Antonio Claudio
AC
Panicucci
Erica
E
Bruschini
Paolo
P
Mancini
Valentina
V
Rognini
Ferdinando
F
Fattori
Bruno
B
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood*
D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12