title: Plasma homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12 levels in patients with laryngeal cancer.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Third Otorhinolaryngology Unit, Department of Neurosciences, University of Pisa, Via Savi No. 10, 56126 Pisa, Italy. a.nacci@med.unipi.it
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nacci
authors.forename: Iacopo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dallan
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bruschini
authors.forename: Antonio Claudio
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Traino
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Panicucci
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bruschini
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mancini
authors.forename: Ferdinando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rognini
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fattori
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12