Ferritin is a common blood protein that plays a central role in the body’s management of iron. Its primary function involves storing iron in a safe, non-toxic form within cells. Ferritin ensures that iron is readily available when needed for various bodily processes.
What Ferritin Is
Ferritin is a protein that acts as the body’s main iron storage unit, found inside almost all cells. It stores excess iron, preventing harm, and releases it when needed for functions like red blood cell production. The amount of ferritin in the blood generally reflects the total iron stores in the body.
Normal ferritin levels vary depending on age, sex, and the specific laboratory conducting the test. Typical ranges for adult males are 30 to 400 ng/mL, and for adult females, 13 to 150 ng/mL. These ranges are general guidelines, and individual results should always be interpreted by a healthcare provider.
Non-Cancer Related Reasons for High Ferritin
Elevated ferritin levels do not solely indicate cancer; many other conditions cause this increase. Ferritin acts as an acute phase reactant, meaning its levels rise significantly during inflammation, infection, or chronic diseases. Common non-cancerous causes include infections, autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, and liver diseases.
Conditions like hemochromatosis, a genetic disorder causing excessive iron accumulation, also result in high ferritin. Chronic kidney disease, obesity, and alcohol use disorder can also increase ferritin levels. High ferritin is a non-specific marker, requiring further investigation to determine the underlying reason.
Ferritin Levels Across Various Cancers
Ferritin levels can be elevated in many types of cancer, though the extent varies widely by cancer type, stage, and patient factors. There is no single “cancer ferritin level,” as values range from mildly increased to very high. Elevated ferritin is observed in blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma, where levels can be markedly increased.
Solid tumors also frequently show elevated ferritin, including liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma), breast cancer, and lung cancer. Pancreatic and colorectal cancers are other malignancies where high ferritin levels are often noted. While elevated ferritin is common in these cancers, its presence is not universal across all cancer types or stages.
Why Ferritin Rises in Cancer
The elevation of ferritin in cancer patients stems from several biological mechanisms. Chronic inflammation, a frequent characteristic of cancer, plays a substantial role. Ferritin production increases in response to inflammatory signals, particularly cytokines like interleukin-6 (IL-6). This inflammatory response leads to increased ferritin synthesis, sequestering iron and making it less available for pathogens or tumor cells.
Cancer can also disrupt the body’s normal iron metabolism. Tumor cells often have an increased need for iron for rapid growth and proliferation. While iron is retained, its distribution is altered, leading to higher circulating ferritin levels. Additionally, some tumor cells or tumor-associated macrophages can directly produce and secrete ferritin, further contributing to its elevation.
How Ferritin Levels Are Used in Cancer Care
Ferritin levels are generally not used as a primary diagnostic tool for cancer due to their non-specific nature. Instead, ferritin testing serves supportive roles in cancer care, always interpreted alongside other diagnostic tests and clinical information. It can function as a prognostic marker, with higher levels often correlating with more advanced disease stages or poorer outcomes in certain cancers.
Ferritin levels may also be used to monitor a patient’s response to cancer treatment; a decrease can indicate effective therapy. Conversely, rising levels during or after treatment might signal disease progression or recurrence.