QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE EXAMINATION OF SERUM TRANSFERRIN IN VARIOUS MALIGNANT TUMORS OF THE DIGESTIVE TRACT

Abstract

Quantitative and qualitative examinations of serum transferrin (Tf) were carried out clinically in various diseases of the digestive tract, and experimentally in rat hepatoma induced by 3'Me-DAB and hamster pancreatic cancer induced by DHPN.
Quantitatively, serum Tf decreased in almost all malignant diseases. Qualitative examination by isoelectric focusing revealed that the Tf in healthy adults was divided into 3 bands, and these were named from the anodal side as Fast, Main, and Slow, respectively.
In malignant disease the number of Main band separations significantly decreased, and in cases of pancreatic cancer the Slow/Fast bands decreased. Moreover, it was suggested that these qualitative changes were induced by changes of sialic acid. With regards to the cancer-developing period in rats and hamsters, qualitative changes were observed in Tf and Tf-like protein.
The qualitative examination of Tf seems to be useful not only in the clarification of illness but also as a screening test for cancer of the digestive organs.