Expression of beta-2-microglobulin by nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Abstract

SummarySerum beta-2-microglobulin (02M) levels of 274 Chinese patients with different stages of nasopharyngeal carcinoma at presentation and that of 35 patients who developed distant metastases posttreatment were assayed. P2M level was found to increase with advancing stage of disease, with statistically significant differences among early-stage, advanced-stage, and metastatic disease. Elevated pre-treatment P2M levels were expressed more frequently by tumours with lower degree of histological differentiation. The sensitivity of serum P2M for diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, however, is low.

Prospective validation of serum CYFRA 21‐1, β‐2‐microglobulin, and ferritin levels as prognostic markers in patients with nonmetastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma undergoing radiotherapy

“…In addition, the median levels of serum ferritin and β 2 M did not change appreciably after RT despite the 100% complete response to RT, suggesting that these markers do not reflect tumor burden. We also recognized that other cut‐off values for CYFRA (i.e., ≥ 2 U/mL vs. < 2 U/mL or 2.5 ng/mL), β 2 M (i.e., ≥ 2 mg/mL or < 2 mg/mL), and ferritin (i.e., ≥ 535 ng/mL or < 535 ng/mL) were used in the statistical calculations of previous studies on patients with NPC8–10, 17, 19, 20 or with types of malignancies 16, 32. We repeated the analysis using these alternative cut‐off values and found that the statistical conclusions did not alter.…”

“…Serum markers, such as CYFRA 21‐1 (CYFRA), β‐2‐microglobulin (β 2 M), and ferritin, have shown promise as prognostic indicators for NPC in retrospective studies 8–10. CYFRA is a cytoplasmic protein fragment of cytokeratin 19 that is found in a variety of epithelial malignancies 11–16.…”

“…The cell membrane protein β 2 M is ubiquitous to nucleated cells and reflects cell turnover; like serum ferritin, these markers can be elevated in a variety of hematologic malignancies. Elevated serum levels of CYFRA, β 2 M, and ferritin can be found in > 30–50% of patients with NPC irrespective of disease stage 9, 10, 17–20. Their value in predicting survival and disease recurrence after radical RT in patients with nonmetastatic NPC remains to be determined.…”

Μεταβολες Των Τιμων Της Β2-Μικροαιμοσφαιρινης Του Ορου Κατα Τη Διαρκεια Της Θεραπειας Της Λοιμωξης Απο Τον Hiv Με Azt

“…Η ß2-m μελετήθηκε επίσης στον ορό ασθενών με νεοπλασματικά νοσήματα. Βρέθηκε αυξημένη σε ασθενείς με ρινοφαρυγγικό και στοματικό καρκίνο, και σε νεοπλάσματα ωοθηκών (121,122,123) Οι αυξήσεις αυτές είχαν χαμηλή ευαισθησία και ειδικότητα σαν παράμετροι παρακολούθησης της νόσου. Η ß2-m έχει μελετηθεί επίσης στο εγκεφαλονωτιαίο υγρό ασθενών με συμπαγείς όγκους που μπορεί να προσβάλουν το ΚΝΣ.…”