Serum iron and total iron binding capacity in larynx cancer patients treated with surgery.

ABSTRACT

A decrease in serum iron and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) has been seen in patients with various malignancies. Similar iron level and TIBC alterations we have found in patients with larynx cancer. Estimation of TIBC reflects the quantity of transferrin which is the iron carrier in serum. The serum iron and transferrin changes cannot be used for diagnostic purposes because they are not specific to malignancies. Such alterations have been also seen in inflammatory and infectious diseases, heart infarct and anaemias. However, it is of interest whether elimination of neoplastic tissue from an organism brings back the decreased serum iron and TIBC to normal values.