Serum immunoglobulin levels in patients with neuroblastoma and their prognosis

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Serum IgG, IgA, IgM and β1A globulin levels of 24 patients with neuroblastoma were measured for the purpose of determining whether or not humoral immune competence of these patients is related to their prognosis. As control groups, 39 normal children and 21 patients with other melignant neoplasia such as leukemia and malignant lymphoma were measured for these globulin levels. On admission, the serum IgG level was high in 7/16 (43.8%) of the neuroblastoma patients, in 0/39 (0%) of the normal children and in 2/21 (9.5%) of the other malignancies (>M+2 SD). β1A globulin level was high in 10/16 (62.5%), 0/39 (0%) and 8/21 (38.1%) of the cases, respectively. Serum IgG and β1A globulin levels were observed to be higher in patients with neuroblastoma than in normal children and patients with other malignancies. Six of these 16 neuroblastoma patients are still alive: 3 with long survival with metastatic tumor and 3 with long survival without tumor. Four of these 6 patients, the first 3 cases and one of the latter cases, had very high IgG levels on admission (>M+3 SD). There were no significant differences between neuroblastoma, other malignancy and normal children in serum IgA and IgM levels. During serial measurement of these globulins in the 14 dying cases, serum IgG level decreased abruptly 2–4 mo after the initial treatment whereas the initial high levels continued in all of the living cases. β1A globulin registered high levels on admission in both dying and living patients and gradually decreased during treatment. All 4 cases with recovery showed normal ranges (M+1 SD). As a result, patients who showed a higher level of IgG at admission and did not have decreased IgG and IgM levels during treatment seemed to be long survival cases. We think that these data suggest that the humoral immune competence of the patients with neuroblastoma may be related to their prognosis. Serum IgG, IgA, IgM and β1A globulin levels of 24 patients with neuroblastoma were measured for the purpose of determining whether or not humoral immune competence of these patients is related to their prognosis. As control groups, 39 normal children and 21 patients with other melignant neoplasia such as leukemia and malignant lymphoma were measured for these globulin levels. On admission, the serum IgG level was high in 7/16 (43.8%) of the neuroblastoma patients, in 0/39 (0%) of the normal children and in 2/21 (9.5%) of the other malignancies (>M+2 SD). β1A globulin level was high in 10/16 (62.5%), 0/39 (0%) and 8/21 (38.1%) of the cases, respectively. Serum IgG and β1A globulin levels were observed to be higher in patients with neuroblastoma than in normal children and patients with other malignancies. Six of these 16 neuroblastoma patients are still alive: 3 with long survival with metastatic tumor and 3 with long survival without tumor. Four of these 6 patients, the first 3 cases and one of the latter cases, had very high IgG levels on admission (>M+3 SD). There were no significant differences between neuroblastoma, other malignancy and normal children in serum IgA and IgM levels. During serial measurement of these globulins in the 14 dying cases, serum IgG level decreased abruptly 2–4 mo after the initial treatment whereas the initial high levels continued in all of the living cases. β1A globulin registered high levels on admission in both dying and living patients and gradually decreased during treatment. All 4 cases with recovery showed normal ranges (M+1 SD). As a result, patients who showed a higher level of IgG at admission and did not have decreased IgG and IgM levels during treatment seemed to be long survival cases. We think that these data suggest that the humoral immune competence of the patients with neuroblastoma may be related to their prognosis.