[Serum ferritin and trophoblastic globulin in genital tumors in women]

Blood serum levels of ferritin and trophoblastic globulin were measured by immunoassay in 389 and 114 cases, respectively, suffering malignant or benign tumors of the uterus and ovary as well as in controls. Hyperferritinemia identified at serum ferritin levels in excess of 200 micrograms/l was established in 94% of cases of ovarian cancer, 57%--benign ovarian tumors, 60%--endometrial carcinoma and in 16% of patients with uterine myoma. Patients with ovarian and uterine malignancies were shown to have the highest serum ferritin levels. The study failed to establish an increase in trophoblastic globulin concentration in cases of nontrophoblastic tumors of the genitals. It is suggested that serum ferritin level be measured in patients presenting with ovarian and uterine tumors and in subjects at high risk for ovarian cancer to assure early diagnosis of disease.