The expression of serum hepcidin and erythropoietin in tumor patients with radiotherapy associated anemia

Objective: To study the expression features of hepcidin (Hep) and erythropoietin (EPO) and the pathogenesis of anemia in tumor patients caused by radiotherapy. Methods: The study included 92 cancer patients who received radiation, their hemoglobin (Hb) concentration was measured, meanwhile, serum Hep and EPO were detected by ELISA method, to explore the pathogenesis of anemia caused by radiotherapy. Results: ① The Hb level before and after radiotherapy in 92 patients and in 20 controls were respectively 127.33 ± 17.12, 119.41 ± 17.05 and 132.80 ± 11.80g/L, the difference was statistically significant (F=11.70, P < 0.01). The anemia cases were 14 and 27, respectively, which were also statistically significant (x
2
=8.68, P<0.01). ② The Hep level before and after radiotherapy in 92 patients and in 20 controls were 3.38±2.48, 2.37±1.37 and 3.22±1.10mg/ml respectively, the difference was statistically significant (F=3.88, P<0.05). ③ EPO level before and after radiotherapy in 92 patients and in 20 controls were 5.05±3.50, 5.75±1.99 and 3.81±1.15mg/ml, respectively, the difference was statistically significant (F= 9.18, P<0.01). ④ Hep was negatively correlated with Hb before radiotherapy (r = -0.2938, t=2.9089, P<0.01), but Hep was not correlated with Hb after radiotherapy (r = - 0.0111, P>0.05). ⑤ There were no correlation between EPO and Hep before and after radiotherapy (r = 0.1234, 0.0355, all P>0.05). Conclusion: Radiotherapy could cause anemia in cancer patients, and anemic negative feedback inhibited the expression of Hep, while EPO was highly compensatory.