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Serum ferritin and binding of serum ferritin to concanavalin A as a tumor marker in patients with primary liver cell cancer and chronic liver disease

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Abstract

Total ferritin concentration was measured in sera of 30 patients with primary liver cell cancer (PLCC) and 33 patients with cirrhosis and compared with serum alpha-fetoprotein levels as a diagnostic marker of PLCC. Serum ferritin concentration was raised in 19 patients (63%) with PLCC and 11 patients (33%) with cirrhosis. The median level was significantly higher (P<0.001) in the PLCC group (560 μg/liter) than in the cirrhotic group (137 μg/liter), although there was considerable overlap. Serum ferritin was posititively correlated with serum aminotransferase levels in the cirrhotic patients (r=0.53,P<0.001), reflecting hepatic necrosis, but not in the PLCC patients. The concentration of ferritin binding to concanavalin A was measured in the sera of patients with elevated total serum ferritin. Although the proportion of bound ferritin was decreased in the majority of PLCC sera compared to controls (P<0.001), there was overlap with the cirrhotic group, making it unlikely that this assay is useful in distinguishing a tumor-specific isoferritin. Serum alpha-fetoprotein levels were elevated in 21 patients (70%) with PLCC and proved to be a highly sensitive and specific test for PLCC. There was no relationship between the alpha-fetoprotein and serum ferritin concentrations. Serum ferritin is inferior to alpha-fetoprotein as an initial screening test for PLCC, but in alpha-fetoprotein-negative patients serum ferritin may have a role in monitoring therapy. Patients with cirrhosis with normal serum alpha-fetoprotein and ferritin concentrations are very unlikely to have PLCC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Royal Free Hospital, Pond Street, NW3, London, UK

    R. W. Chapman MRCP (Watson Smith Research Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London), M. F. Bassendine MRCP (H.A.M. Thompson Research Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London), M. Laulicht, A. Gorman MRCPath, H. C. Thomas PhD, MRCP (a Wellcome Senior Research Fellow), Sheila Sherlock MD, FRCP & A. V. Hoffbrand MD, FRCPath

  2. Department of Haematology, Royal Free Hospital, Pond Street, NW3, London, UK

    R. W. Chapman MRCP (Watson Smith Research Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London), M. F. Bassendine MRCP (H.A.M. Thompson Research Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London), M. Laulicht, A. Gorman MRCPath, H. C. Thomas PhD, MRCP (a Wellcome Senior Research Fellow), Sheila Sherlock MD, FRCP & A. V. Hoffbrand MD, FRCPath

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  1. R. W. Chapman MRCP
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  2. M. F. Bassendine MRCP
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  3. M. Laulicht
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  4. A. Gorman MRCPath
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  5. H. C. Thomas PhD, MRCP
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  6. Sheila Sherlock MD, FRCP
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  7. A. V. Hoffbrand MD, FRCPath
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Chapman, R.W., Bassendine, M.F., Laulicht, M. et al. Serum ferritin and binding of serum ferritin to concanavalin A as a tumor marker in patients with primary liver cell cancer and chronic liver disease. Digest Dis Sci 27, 111–116 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01311703

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01311703

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