Ferritin-bearing T-lymphocytes and serum ferritin in patients with breast cancer.

Flow cytometric studies of T-lymphocytes in breast cancer patients show that the number of cells bearing ferritin on their surface is significantly greater than normal. The number of ferritin-bearing T-cells does not appear to be related to the clinical stage of the disease nor to the serum ferritin concentration, though this is higher in cancer patients than in normal women. There is no difference in the number of T-cells positive for interleukin 2 or transferrin receptors nor in the absolute number of T-cells, T-helper cells and B-cells between normal women and those with breast cancer or benign breast disease. However, there is a significant increase in the level of HLA DR-positive T-cells and T-suppressor cells in breast cancer patients. While the significance of ferritin-bearing T-cells is not known an increase in their number appears to be associated with cancer.