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Serum parameters of iron metabolism in patients with breast cancer
Eva J Ulbrich1, Antje Lebrecht, Ingeborg Schneider
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Strasse 24, 06097 Halle, Germany. eva.ulbrich@medizin.uni-halle.de
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).
Materials And 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.
Conclusion:
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.
