Tumors and blood proteins

Abstract

The main laboratory investigations for the diagnosis of malignancy are reviewed. None of them has demonstrated to have a sufficient sensibility and specificness. The results of electrophoretic separation of serum proteins of one hundred and twenty eight patients with malignant diseases and of ten patients with benign forms are reported. From the examination of the results we may conclude: a) Eighty five per cent of the patients with malignant diseases has presented alterations of the electrophoretic pattern while no alteration was evident in subjects with benign forms. b) According to what has been already described by others the most frequent alteration seen in subjects with malignant tumors is the increase of alpha 2 globulins. Wo have seen the highest values of alpha 2 globulins in subjects with gastric and pulmonary cancer and in bone metastasis from prostate and breast cancer. c) Hepatic metastasis from gastric cancer presented increase of beta globulins and alpha 2 globulins. In gastric cancer we have very often seen an increase of alpha 1 globulins too. In four cases of gastric cancer (two infiltrating forms and two old gastric ulcers degenerated) we had no modification of serum proteins. d) We had increase of gamma globulins in pulmonary cancer, bone cancer and in the second stage of linphogranuloma. e) The described alterations of the electrophoretic pattern are common to other pathological conditions, out they assume particular importance in tumors of some organs (stomach, lung, bone). f) The insufficient specificness and sensibility of these modification makes them of no value when other pathological conditions are present in the same patient. g) Electrophoretic pattern is very important in the post-operation course (after removal of tumor) as a token of local relapses or metastasis.