ERTAIN forms 01 endocrine palliative ther-C apy for far advanced carcinoma of the breast occasionally result in profound regression of the neoplastic lesions. Whether thc "characteristic" but nonspecific alterations in serum proteins of cancer patients change significantly in conjunction with an objective responsc to palliative measures has not been determined.
I n the serum protein fractions, the n105L frequent deviations from normal among patients with uncontrolled cancer are a decrease in albumin and an increase in total globulins.
A decrease in the gamma globulin fraction of preterrninal patients with disseminated canccr has also been reported.1 T h e significance of these changes is not understood. A decrease in gamma globulin could be the result of a decreased immunological responsiveness of thc host to the tumor. We thought it appropriate to investigatc whcther certain fonnc of palliative therapy for far advanced carcinoma of the breast wrould alter thc pattcrn of serial levels of serum protein-particularly those of gamma globulin and its gamma 2 subfrnction.
Methods
Simples of clotted blood wrre obtained postabsorptively. Serum proteins were fractionated by thc rriethod of \1'olfson et al.5
In selected inbtances, values obtained by this chcniical proredine we1 c compared with 5imiil taneouc determinations made by using mor ing bonndary or paper electrophoresis.