Prognostic importance of anemia related parameters in patients with carcinoma of the cervix uteri.

The authors investigated the pretreatment values of hemoglobin, hematocrit, plasma iron and other laboratory parameters in 121 patients with cervical cancer treated by combined intracavitary and external irradiation. A pronounced correlation was found between plasma iron values and the length of disease-free survival. The correlation between hematocrit values and disease-free survival was less pronounced and the correlation between hemoglobin values and disease-free survival did not reach statistical significance. It is suggested that anemia-related parameters may reflect the aggressiveness of the disease or its spread.