Serum Properdin Levels and Cancer Cell Homografts in Man.

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Abstract
Low levels of serum properdin were found in patients with advanced cancer whose ability to reject cancer cell homografts was defective. Properdin titers in those patients ranged from < 1 to 4 U/ml with a median value of 1 U/ml. Normal properdin levels were seen in normal persons who rejected cancer cell homografts promptly. Properdin titers in the normals were 2 to 12 U/ml with a median of 8 U/ml. Properdin was measured by the zymosan technique. The implanted cancer cells were established human cell lines (HEp no. 1, HEp no. 2, HEp no. 3, HeLa, HS no. 1, J-III) cultivated in tissue cultures, chick embryos, or cortisone-conditioned rats. Investigation of cellular and humoral defense mechanisms other than properdin has thus far shown no differences which might explain the impaired rejection of the homo-transplants by the cancer patients.