Serum Proteins in Prostatic Cancer

Abstract

Preliminary studies of sera from prostatic cancer patients have indicated a reduction in the presence of suppressive (‘blocking’?) properties of in vitro parameters of cell-mediated immunologic responsiveness induced by a non-specific mitogen (phytohaemagglutinin) in association with a decrease in the level of α₂-globulin and favourable clinical response following cryosurgery. The origin of the immunosuppressive factor(s) migrating on electrophoresis in the α₂-globulin fraction of serum remains to be identified. Earlier demonstration of suppression of leucocyte migration by factors elaborated from tumour cells and recent observations of the suppression of lymphocytic reactivity by seminal plasma and coaguloprostatic fluid suggest that suppression and reduction or abrogation of the suppressive properties of serum following cryosurgical destruction of tumour may be attributed to a reduction in soluble prostatic tumour-associated antigen shed into the circlation by previously viable tumour. Such antigen while not at a sufficient concentration to engender an immunologic response in the aging and tumour-burdened host, may, however, have been sufficient to pre-empt the effector limb of cell-mediated responsiveness contributing to the observed suppression of lymphocytic reactivity. Cryosurgery, resulting in necrosis and cell death with depletion of the primary source of antigen might thereby have permitted a previously overwhelmed host to respond, viz., the favourable clinical response observed.

More Than Just Tumor Destruction: Immunomodulation by Thermal Ablation of Cancer

“…The earliest reports on immune modification after cryoablation described autoantibody production against ablated normal and tumor tissues in rabbits and monkeys, as well as in patients [41, 106–112, 114]. These antibodies were essentially IgG and IgM in the serum [41, 86, 114] and at the vicinity of the ablated lesion mainly IgG and IgA [115] appearing within two weeks after intervention [41, 86, 114].…”

“…These antibodies were essentially IgG and IgM in the serum [41, 86, 114] and at the vicinity of the ablated lesion mainly IgG and IgA [115] appearing within two weeks after intervention [41, 86, 114]. In contrast, Müller and colleagues treated osteosarcoma in mice with cryoablation and found a decrease of tumor-binding antibodies [113].…”

Effects of diethylstilbestrol diphosphate on serum and tissue ribonuclease levels in prostatic carcinoma

“…Studies in patients with prostatic carcinoma have shown an immunological defect which depresses cellular immunity and accelerates progression of the disease This immunological defect also seems to be related to a serum factor [4,5]. Protein electrophoretic studies have shown that in such cases a,-globulin fraction, consisting of RNase as active component, increases in the serum [6,7]. The immunosuppressive effect of RNase is well known [S].…”