beta 2-Microglobulin: a tumor marker of gynecologic cancer

Evaluation of serum beta 2-microglobulin in oral cancer

Beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-m) low molecular mass protein was measured in serum of normal subjects and in patients with oral cancer. There was a significant increase in beta 2-m levels in oral cancer patients. The possible role of beta 2-m as a biochemical parameter and its significance in oral cancer is discussed.

Beta 2-microglobulin in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck and in tumours heterotransplanted into nude athymic mice

Beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m) is a small polypeptide, related to the immunoglobulins and present on nucleated cells as part of the strong transplantation antigens. Elevated plasma levels have been recorded in patients with various malignant diseases. Human beta 2m has also been detected immunohistochemically in carcinomas transplanted into nude mice, and in the plasma of tumour-bearing mice. In the present study the occurrence of human beta 2m was studied in the plasma of 26 patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck and in six heterotransplanted carcinoma lines. Extractable beta 2m was measured in seven SCC of the head and neck and in the six heterotransplanted tumour lines. Immunohistochemically detectable beta 2m was studied in 20 SCC and in six heterotransplanted tumour lines. Only 3 of 26 patients (12%) had elevated p-beta 2m levels. Stage IV tumours seemed to have more p-beta 2m (though within the normal range) than did less advanced tumours. There was no correlation between the total amount of extractable beta 2m in the patients' tumours and p-beta 2m. However, there was an association between the concentration of beta 2m in the tumours and p-beta 2m. Human beta 2m could be detected in the plasma of mice with tumours from all tumour lines, and there was a tendency toward an association between tumour size and p-beta 2m. The ratio of p-beta 2m/tumour volume differed between the tumour lines. Tumour volume doubling time (DT) was determined for the various tumour lines, and there was a correlation between DT and beta 2m concentration of the tumours.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Review of tumor markers for ovarian cancer

Forty-two substances having been described as potential tumor markers for ovarian cancer are reviewed regarding sensitivity, specificity, and correlation with clinical course of disease. At present, there is no reliable marker for the primary diagnosis of the vast majority of ovarian cancers. Tumor markers may however serve as adjunctive tools in monitoring ovarian cancer patients after treatment.

Biochemical aids in the monitoring of patients with ovarian cancer

A study of possible biochemical markers of tumor recurrence and progression was made in 93 patients with ovarian cancer followed longitudinally for up to 2 years during treatment by moderate or aggressive chemotherapy regimens. A panel of potential indicators was tested; the combination of serum albumin, C-reactive protein, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, and phosphohexose isomerase levels was found to provide information that is useful as an adjunct to the clinical assessment of patients with advanced disease. However, the system could not detect a small tumor burden. The level of beta 2-microglobulin may have value in those patients whose tumor is associated with an increase of this analyte (77%), but it would appear to reflect a large tumor mass. Serum CEA, carcino-placental alkaline phosphatase, transferrin, and prealbumin were not found to be helpful.