Serum iron: a tumour marker in renal carcinoma

Many patients with renal carcinoma have associated anaemia that is not related to the degree of their haematuria. We report our experience with 18 patients who were anaemic with low serum iron at the time of diagnosis. The serum iron was found to be useful as a tumour marker in following the course of the disease. In patients who had no evidence of metastases following radical nephrectomy, the serum iron returned to normal. In those who had residual disease or who developed recurrent disease, the serum iron was low. It was concluded that serum iron is a useful, inexpensive tumour marker in selected patients with renal carcinoma.