title: Plasma alpha-1-antitrypsin levels in early and late carcinoma of the cervix.
abstract: Previous studies have demonstrated a rise in serum alpha-1-antitrypsin at advanced stages of malignancy. These, together with results of animal experiments with another anti-proteinase, aprotinin, have prompted studies of the plasma alpha-1-antitrypsin in the early stages of malignancy, using cervical carcinoma as a model. Measurements were made in three groups of individuals; negative cervical-smear women volunteers; hospitalised women with a positive result from the cervical-smear test; hospitalised women with a clinical cervical carcinoma. Elevated plasma alpha-1-antitrypsin levels were found in the "smear-positive" and "cancer" groups. Possible explanations for this increase are discussed and it is concluded that it occurs in direct response to the early stages of development of the tumor. Once a frank carcinoma has developed, maximal response has been attained, regardless of the degree of invasion or metastasis.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin