SOLUBLE HLA CLASS-I IN COLON CANCER

Serum beta-2 microglobulin (beta-2M) was measured in 250 colon cancer patients and 210 controls. The patients were divided in three groups: Group A, 49 healthy newly diagnosed patients, Group B, 146 patients on long-term follow-up, and Group C, 56 patients with metastases. beta-2M was measured by an ELISA technique. The mean beta-2M +/- 1SD in all the cancer patients (4.4 +/- 1.6) was significantly higher than in age-matched controls (1.29 +/- 0.49) (p < 0.001) When the three groups were compared to each other the mean beta-2M level of group A was similar to that of group C. Both differed significantly from the mean beta-2M of group B, There was a good correlation between CEA level and beta-2M level and metastasis. However, in 15 patients of Group B, metastases were observed with an elevated beta-2M level but a normal CEA level. We conclude that the assessment of beta-2M by a single ELISA technique is of value in evaluation of metastasis especially in patients with normal CEA levels.