title: Serum prealbumin, retinol-binding protein, transferrin, and albumin levels in patients with large bowel cancer.
abstract: In a study of the levels of serum prealbumin (PALB), retinol-binding protein (RBP), transferrin (TF), and albumin (ALB) in patients with large bowel cancer, critical values were established as (g/liter): PALB, 0.15; RBP, 40 X 10(-3); TF, 2.0; and ALB, 30. Values consistently below these were taken as a sign of malnutrition. The proteins in this system were interrelated and tended to show a similar pattern of change. Metastatic colon cancer caused a relatively small decline of ALB compared to the mean in tumor-free patients. PALB was the most sensitive indicator of nutrition, and its levels and rates of change had a prognostic significance. A rapid fall of PALB often occurred 2--3 months prior to the patients's death; this preterminal phase in ambulant patients was frequently heralded by a progressive rise in the level of C-reactive protein in the absence of any obvious infection.
mesh_terms: D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D011228:Prealbumin / Q000032:analysis*; D011379:Prognosis; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis*; D013997:Time Factors; D014168:Transferrin / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011228:Prealbumin; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins; D012709:Serum Albumin; D014168:Transferrin