RELATIONSHIP OF SERUM AND TUMOR LEVELS OF IRON AND IRON-BINDING PROTEINS TO LYMPHOCYTE IMMUNITY AGAINST TUMOR-ANTIGEN IN BREAST-CANCER PATIENTS

Fifty-two breast cancer patients were evaluated for levels of several molecules related to iron metabolism including determining their turne r tissue and serum ferritin levels, serum transferrin levels, and seru m iron levels. In addition the patients' lymphocyte immunity against a utologous tumor antigen was investigated. Forty percent (21 of 52) of the patients had lymphocyte immunity against tumor antigen. Iron metab olism molecules were expressed in abnormal quantities in some breast c ancer patients: 27% (13 of 49) had elevated tumor tissue ferritin leve ls, 4% (2 of 49) had abnormally high serum ferritin, 10% (5 of 49) had abnormally low serum transferrin levels, and 43% (21. of 49) had depr essed serum iron levels. None of these abnormalities in iron metabolis m are associated with tumor immunity. These iron metabolism molecules may be indicative of rates of cell proliferation or may influence grow th of breast cancer cells, but do not appear to influence host lymphoc yte immunity against tumor associated antigens.