Abstract
The half-life of γ-globulin, with use of I131-labeled protein, was determined in a group of 15 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and in a comparative group of 6 patients with breast cancer. A markedly prolonged γ-globulin half-life (mean value 13.9 days) was observed in the leukemic patients as opposed to a mean value of 6.6 days in the comparative group. This difference was statistically significant. The patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia manifested progressive hypogammaglobulinemia as a group, a feature of the evolution of the disease. This is interpreted as evidence of decreased anabolism as well as catabolism of the serum γ-globulin fraction in these patients. Speculation as to the etiology of these phenomena is presented. The relationship of the abnormal lymphocyte, with its increased survival time, to the impaired formation of γ-globulin is suggested. The variations in the γ-globulin half-life and serum concentrations may be a function of the proportion existing between the normal and pathologic lymphocyte populations at a given stage of the disease. It is postulated that the prolonged γ-globulin half-life may represent a compensatory slowdown in degradation secondary to the diminished formation of the protein.
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