Vitamin B12 and folic acid levels in childhood cancers

Purpose: Vitamin B12 and folic acid have some basic functions in the synthesis, repair and expression of DNA of which susceptibility to damage is a major concern in carcinogenesis. We have examined the relationship between childhood cancers and vitamin B12 and folic acid levels in the present study. Materials and Methods: Between November 2013 and December 2015 newly diagnosed 125 patients with solid tumors and 113 patients with lymphoproliferative/myeloproliferative malignant diseases and 63 controls were enrolled into the study. Vitamin B12, folic acid and homocysteine levels were measured as a part of diagnostic evaluation at the time of diagnosis. Results: Vitamin B12 and folic acid levels were found to be significantly lower in children with malignant diseases compared to the control group. Homocysteine levels however were statistically higher than those of the control group. Folic acid levels were significantly lower in lymphoproliferative/myeloproliferative malignant diseases group compared to the solid tumor group. Conclusion: Lower vitamin B12 and folic acid levels can be used as supportive markers at the time of diagnosis of cancer. This relationship needs to be proved in future studies with larger series.