Serum ferritin as a prognostic indicator in neuroblastoma: biological effects of isoferritins

These studies suggest that a) the levels of serum ferritin are closely related to the prognosis of patients with neuroblastoma; b) the increased amounts of ferritin in the serum of patients with neuroblastoma are, in part, derived from the tumor; c) isoferritins from neuroblastoma cells exert adverse effects on the host immune response and host defenses; and d) therefore, isoferritins released from tumors may, in part, be responsible for the poor prognosis of patients with elevated levels of serum ferritin.