title: Beta-2-microglobulin as a tumor marker in solid malignancies.
abstract: Beta-2-microglobulin (beta 2-MG) and CEA were measured in the sera of 186 cancer patients divided into two groups: at diagnosis (D) and at follow-up (F). Four groups of patients at diagnosis (D-I, D-II, D-III and D-IV according to TNM classification) and two at follow-up (in remission, F-RS, and in relapse, F-RP) were considered. All patients had normal serum creatinine and urea concentrations. beta 2-MG values in D-I were significantly (p less than 0.01) lower than those for D-II and D-III, while in D-IV they overlapped those of group D-I. No significant difference was observed between F-RS and F-RP patients. Patients with serum CEA concentration greater than 100 ng/ml revealed beta 2-MG values close to those of groups D-I and D-IV. In 10% of patients in stage IV or with CEA greater than 100 ng/ml beta 2-MG was lower than the mean value of the healthy population. From data beta 2-MG is probably produced by an aspecific reaction to the tumor and the decrease in advanced stages could express a decreased immunologic response. On the other hand, high serum beta 2-MG in the initial stages of the neoplasia may reflect an elevated cell turnover, while low beta 2-MG during the final stages may be due to a weak expression of the protein by highly undifferentiated cells.
authors.affiliation: Servizio Analisi Chimico-Cliniche, Policlinico S. Matteo, University of Pavia, Italia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lotzniker
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pavesi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marbello
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moratti
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin