Plasma levels of retinol and retinol-binding protein in patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck region.

The levels of retinol, retinol-binding protein (RBP), and prealbumin (PALB) in 53 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas of various size and metastatic nature were significantly lower than in tumor-free individuals and patients suffering from premalignant lesions of the laryngeal mucosa. The levels in tumor patients remained low after tumor resection and postradiation. With regard to the possible antineoplastic role of vitamin A, the reduced plasma retinol levels are considered as a possible supporting factor in tumor development and growth. The cause of the disorder however remains unclear.