Abnormal Proteinuria in Malignant Diseases

Abstract

Publisher Summary Of the many metabolic products of tumors, polypeptides, which belong to the family of immunoglobulins, are perhaps the most readily recognized and have consequently aroused the greatest interest. Secreted in varying amounts by the vast majority of plasmacytic and certain other neoplasms, these proteins can often be detected in the urine and have been the object of intensive investigation since the earliest days of protein chemistry. It is now apparent that numerous proteins associated with the metabolism of malignant cells are excreted in the urine, and, indeed, rather than containing merely “physiological garbage,” the urine has provided a source of “limitless treasure” for investigators in this field. Methods employed for the quantitative determination of proteins in the urine usually vary depending on the protein concentration, whereas the qualitative evaluation of urinary proteins requires a variety of procedures, including electrophoresis in various media, such as filter paper, cellulose acetate, starch gel, immunoelectrophoresis, single or double immunodiffusion analysis, and ultracentrifugation.