Z. Kirkali et al., Serum ferritin as a clinical marker for renal cell carcinoma: Influence oftumor size and volume, UROL INTERN, 62(1), 1999, pp. 21-25
Objectives: There is no established tumor marker for renal cell carcinoma (
RCC). Ferritin is shown to be expressed by the tumor, and proposed as a tum
or marker. The aim of this study is to assess the relation between ferritin
levels and tumor volume, size and prognosis in RCC. Methods: We studied fe
rritin levels in serum from peripheral and renal veins of 52 patients with
RCC who underwent surgery. Ferritin levels were measured by an enzyme immun
oassay method. Tumor volume and the largest tumor diameter were calculated
from the pathologic specimens. Results: The mean serum ferritin level from
the renal vein (RVF) was statistically higher than the ferritin level from
the peripheral vein (PVF) (p = 0.028). Although mean RVF level increased wi
th increasing stage, it was not significant. While there was a correlation
with tumor size, volume and RVF, PVF was in correlation with disease status
. PVF in patients with metastatic and/or locally advanced disease was signi
ficantly higher than the patients with localized disease (p = 0.023), The i
nitial RVF and PVF levels were predictive of survival (p = 0.028 and p = 0.
034, respectively). Conclusions: Higher levels in the renal vein, its posit
ive correlation with tumor size and volume suggest that ferritin is express
ed by RCC. Initial peripheral serum values of ferritin can be indicative of
disease status and also be a prognosticator of survival.