[What value should be given to assays of serum ferritin in breast cancers? Correlation with various biological...

The aim of this study is to determine the value of serum ferritin assay alone or combined with CEA and beta-2-M. For the diagnosis of breast cancer, serum ferritin is of little value, with 23% false positive and 41% false negative results. Furthermore, combination with CEA and beta-2-M assays does not improve the diagnosis of malignancy. However, mean ferritin concentrations and percentage of positive results increase with tumor volume, number of involved lymph nodes, distant metastases, and exacerbations. During follow up, variations in serum ferritin concentrations parallel clinical course in 77% of patients, as compared to 62% for the three proteins. Ferritin can be involved in biological exchange processes. Association with hepatic, hematological or inflammatory disorders must therefore be considered in interpreting an increase in serum ferritin in cancer patients.