title: Altered carbohydrate content of alpha1-antitrypsin in patients with cancer.
abstract: The glycosylation of IgG and alpha1-antitrypsin (alpha1-AT) was studied by their precipitation with concanavalin A in a codified serum panel from the National Cancer Institute (Bethesda, Md.) and the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minn.). The serum panel was composed of samples from 98 patients with cancer of the lung, prostate gland, or gastrointestinal tract, 50 samples from patients with benign inflammatory diseases from the same organs as those of the cancer patients, and 41 samples from apparently healthy smokers. The assay for alpha1-AT revealed statistically significant differences in levels between the patients with cancer, the patients with benign diseases, and the smokers. However, tests revealed no statistically significant difference in IgG levels among the three groups. These results suggest that cancer may alter the glycosylation of alpha1-AT. The possibility remains that the test for alpha1-AT can detect genetic differences among individuals, but studies of families are needed before a final conclusion can be made.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000097:blood; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000097:blood; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011469:Prostatic Diseases / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D012907:Smoking / Q000503:physiopathology; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin