DECREASED LEVELS OF CIRCULATING LYTIC ANTI-T IN THE SERUM OF PATIENTS WITH METASTATIC GASTROINTESTINAL CANCER - A CORRELATION WITH DISEASE BURDEN

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 47  (1) , 176-182
Abstract
Using a cytotoxicity assay, all of 40 normal human sera tested were shown to contain antibodies cytotoxic for neuraminidase-treated red blood cells in the presence of complement. The antibodies were shown to be specific for the T disaccharide by studies using a synthetic T antigen. Certain patients with metastatic gastrointestinal cancer had depressed serum levels of anti-T when compared to normal controls. There was a correlation between depression of circulating anti-T and disease burden in that 83% of patients with extensive disease had lower than normal levels of cytotoxic anti-T as compared to 45% of patients with moderate disease and none with minimal disease. There was no correlation between the concentration of cytotoxic anti-T and the age of the patients, time since surgery or the type of therapy the patient was receiving. Patients with low levels of cytotoxic anti-T had normal levels of cytotoxic anti-sheep red blood cell antibody. Measurement of circulating anti-T in the serum of certain cancer patients may prove valuable in the monitoring of disease progression.