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Folate Activity in Serum and Red Cells of Patients with Cancer

Oslo City Hospital, Krohgstötten Department, Oslo, Norway

The serum and red cell folic acid activity (FAA) values were within normal limits in patients with localized cancer. In 85% of a series of patients having metastatic cancer the serum folate was found to be abnormally low although the red cell folate remained normal.

Among 26 patients with cancer originating in the liver, the pancreas, the gall bladder, or the biliary ducts, the serum and red cell FAA values were somewhat more variable. Released folate from damaged liver cells may be a contributing factor to higher serum and red cell FAA values in several of these cases.

Anemia developing in cancer patients may be due partly to folic acid deficiency as indicated by reduced serum FAA, even in the presence of a red cell FAA within normal limits, presumably because of increased folate utilization by tumor.

Received 6/21/65. Accepted 10/20/66.

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