title: Immunosuppressive acidic protein in patients with ovarian cancer.
abstract: Serum immunosuppressive acidic protein (IAP) was determined in 63 patients with ovarian tumors (33 benign and 30 malignant) and 79 healthy female controls, and was examined as a marker for ovarian cancer in comparison with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). The mean value of serum IAP in patients with ovarian cancer (1085 +/- 474 micrograms/ml) was statistically higher than those of both benign tumors (394 +/- 93 micrograms/ml) and controls (298 +/- 92 micrograms/ml). Elevated levels of IAP and CEA were found in 93.3% and 30.0% of patients with ovarian cancer, respectively. There were three false-positive cases with IAP and two with CEA. Elevation of IAP was recognized in all cancer patients in Stage I, whereas 33.3% of these patients showed elevated CEA. The occurrence of elevated serum IAP was not affected by tumor histologic features. Serial IAP determination appeared to provide a useful follow-up marker in patients in whom CEA was low in value. The measurement of serum IAP is highly recommended as an addition to the conventional diagnostic methods.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; C030193:immunosuppressive acidic protein