Dynamic monitoring of serum ferritin as an adverse prognostic biomarker in patients with multiple myeloma

Increased serum ferritin (SF) indicates an adverse prognosis in patients with hematologic malignancies. However, its prognostic significance in multiple myeloma (MM) remains unknown. The impact of SF levels on outcomes in patients with MM was retrospectively analyzed and dynamically assessed. At initial diagnosis, 188 out of 295 patients (63.7%) had high SF that correlated with poor prognosis factors including adverse overall survival and progression-free survival. SF expression was dynamically observed at different time points and SF levels significantly decreased after treatment induction. In addition, SF expression significantly increased at disease progression or relapse. SF can be used as a prognostic factor at initial diagnosis and relapse in patients with MM.