HIGH-CONCENTRATIONS OF N-TERMINAL PEPTIDE OF TYPE-III PROCOLLAGEN IN THE SERA OF PATIENTS WITH VARIOUS CANCERS, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO LIVER-CANCER

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 75  (2) , 130-135
Abstract
The concentrations of N-terminal peptide of type III procollagen in the sera of patients with various cancers were measured by radioimmunoassay. The mean value (with SD) in the control group was 9.9 .+-. 2.6 ng/ml. Serum levels 15 ng/ml were defined as positive, and it was found that 94% of 18 patients with primary liver cancer with cirrhosis, 88% of 8 patients with primary liver cancer without cirrhosis, 77% of 13 patients with metastatic liver cancer, 86% of 7 patients with recurrent breast cancer, 86% of 8 patients with colonic cancer, 75% of 8 patients with pancreatic cancer, 70% of 23 patients with stomach cancer, 51% of 35 patients with lung cancer and 54% of 28 patients with uterine cancer showed positive levels. The concentrations showed great intersubject variations, probably reflecting the activity of tumor growth and/or invasion. The concentrations in the sera of patients with primary liver cancer with cirrhosis were generally higher than those in patients with liver cirrhosis alone or primary liver cancer without cirrhosis. The growth of primary liver cancer complicated by cirrhosis might be detected by serial measurements of this peptide in the serum of patients with liver cirrhosis. This peptide is probably not cancer-specific, but assay of the peptide might be of value as an auxiliary means of detecting and monitoring various cancers, especially liver cancer.

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