Serum and tumour ferritins in primary liver cancer.

Abstract

SUMMARY Serum ferritin concentrations were found to be raised, often considerably, in 58 of 76 black patients with primary liver cancer (PLC). No correlation could be demonstrated between the serum ferritin concentration and several other measurements, including the following: hepatic iron stores measured chemically, the size of the tumour, serum transaminase values, and the presence or absence of cirrhosis in the non-tumorous liver. There was, however, a negative correlation between serum ferritin and alpha-foetoprotein concentrations. Ferritin was purified from PLC tissue obtained from three patients at necropsy and the distribution of isoferritins was determined by isoelectric focusing. Acidic isoferritins similar to those previously found in PLC tissue were obtained. Their acidic nature was confirmed chromatographically using DEAE cellulose. Because the serum ferritin in patients with PLC probably consists of a mixture of normal and acidic isoferritins, it is likely that the serum ferritin assay used in the present study underestimated the actual concentrations present. With the development of an assay which utilises a specific antibody against acidic PLC isoferritins, serum ferritin may prove to be a second marker for PLC.Storage iron exists in two forms which are closely related both functionally and structurally: the diffuse soluble fraction is called ferritin and the aggregated insoluble fraction, haemosiderin. With the development of sensitive immunoradiometric assays for ferritin, it has become apparent that small amounts are normally present in serum (Jacobs et al., 1972) and that the concentrations closely mirror the size of the iron stores in the body (Walters et al, 1973). There are, however, conditions in which this relationship does not hold. Inappropriately high concentrations may occur in infections, in acute and chronic liver diseases, in various haemolytic states, and in a number of neoplastic disorders, including leukaemias, lymphomata, and solid tumours (Jacobs and Worwood, 1975).Of particular interest has been the finding of raised serum ferritin concentrations in some patients with primary liver cancer (PLC).

Dietary iron overload as a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma in black africans

“…In a study of serum and tumor ferritins in HCC in Black Africans, the nontumorous liver tissue of 6 of 17 patients contained chemical iron in the range expected in patients with advanced hereditary hemochromatosis, and heavy iron deposits were evident in the hepatocytes on histological examination. 20 A recent proportional mortality analysis of the 1920s autopsy series, in which Strachan first described iron overload in Africans, showed an association between high hepatic iron levels and death from HCC. 21 Because of the limited information obtained in this study concerning the presence of coexisting cirrhosis, we are unable to state whether iron loading is an independent cause of the tumor or acts as an indirect carcinogen by inducing chronic necroinflammatory hepatic disease.…”

Ferritin and ferritin isoforms I: Structure–function relationships, synthesis, degradation and secretion

“…In the presence of various solid tumours, including tumours of the breast, pancreas and liver an increase of H-subunit rich ferritins was shown in the cells of the tumour, as well as an increase in plasma ferritin. In addition, the plasma ferritins reflected the increase in H-subunit rich ferritins of the tumour, therefore the tumours seem to produce and secrete these H-subunit rich ferritins (Kew et al, 1978;Niitsu et al, 1984).…”

Increased ferritin levels in the fluid of thyroid cyst.

“…Ferritin has been known as an iron storage protein and used for diagnosing iron deficiency anemia and iron overload. On the other hand, it was regarded as a tumor associated antigen (Marcus et al, 1979) A high serum ferritin level in lung cancer (Gropp et al, 1978), leukemia (Jones et al, 1973), primary hepatoma (Kew et al, 1978), and other malignant diseases (Niitsu et al, 1975) has been reported.…”