Iron status markers in patients with small cell carcinoma of the lung. Relation to survival

A longitudinal study of iron status markers (haemoglobin (Hb), serum (S-) iron, S-transferrin, transferrin saturation, S-ferritin) was performed in 31 chemotherapy treated patients with small cell lung cancer. At discovery, eight patients were anaemic (Hb less than 121 g l-1). Hb, S-iron and transferrin saturation were lower (P less than 0.01), and S-ferritin higher (P less than 0.01) than in healthy subjects. Chemotherapy induced an immediate fall in Hb (P less than 0.003), increase in S-iron (P less than 0.003) and transferrin saturation (P less than 0.001). Later in the disease a fall in S-transferrin (P less than 0.006) and an increase in S-ferritin (P less than 0.02) occurred. Thirty patients died during the 2 years observation. S-ferritin at discovery was correlated to performance status score (r = 0.57, P = 0.01) and to survival (r = -0.63, P less than 0.0002). Patients with S-ferritin less than or equal to 400 micrograms l-1 (n = 13) had longer survival than those with S-ferritin greater than 400 micrograms l-1 (n = 18) (P = 0.004).