Anemia is a usual finding in advanced malignant diseases. Various mechanisms were reported as to be involved in the development of anemia of this kind, and they may differ in individual cases._ Tumor anemias may be due, for instance, to chronic blood loss, shortened life span of the red blood cells or a decreased hemopoiesis in the bone marrow. .
The serum iron and copper levels, total iron binding capacity, apparent half survival of 5´Cr-labelled red blood cells were measured along with the ferrokinetic studies using 59Fe in 64 patients with various malignant tumors.
Following were the results:
1. The serum iron levels were decreased in all cases. There existed no correlation between theserum iron levels and the severity of the diseases.
2. The serum copper levels were increased, particularly in lung cancer, rectal cancer, hepatoma _ and various sarcomas. There was also nc correlation between the serum copper levels and the severity of the diseases.
3. The serum iron levels appeared to be inversely proportional to the serum copper levels.
4. The total iron binding capacities were within normal limits in all cases. There were also no, correlations between the total iron binding capacities, serum iron levels and the severity of the diseases.
5. The patients could be classified according to the ferrokinetic patterns, namely, that of iron deficiency anemia in 10 cases, that of refractory anemia in 6 cases, normal in 1 case and that of atypical abnormal in 9 cases.
6. Apparent half survival time of S1Cr-labelled red blood cells were definitely shortened in half of the cases.
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