Microquantitative Estimation of Serum C-Reactive Protein and Alpha 1-Acid Glycoprotein in Patients with Ovarian Cancer

Abstract

Both serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AAG) were measured in 22 patients with benign ovarian tumors, 58 patients with ovarian cancer and 31 normal controls, using a single radial immunodiffusion technique. In most normal women as well as patients with benign ovarian tumors, serum CRP was lower than 2 μg/ml and AAG lower than 80 mg/dl. In 15 of 25 untreated patients with ovarian cancer and in 14 of 16 patients with recurrence, both serum CRP and AAG were above 2 μg/ml and 80 mg/dl respectively. Serum CRP and AAG levels were measured sequentially in 9 patients with ovarian cancer after initial treatment. Serum CRP and AAG levels in 5 patients without recurrence had returned to and remained at normal levels after successful treatment. In contrast, 4 patients with recurrence exhibited elevations in serum CRP and AAG levels above the normal range. It is worth notions that these proteins increased before clinical evidence of recurrence. These studies suggest that serial measurement of CRP and AAG may be of great use in the surveillance of patients with ovarian cancer following initial treatment.