HE SUBSTANCE C-reactive protein (CRP) is T a beta globulin that is not detectable in normal blood but appears in certain inflammatory conditions often associated with tissue breakdown. It was discovered in 1930 by Tillett and Francis0 from its capacity to form a specific precipitate with the C-polysaccharide of pneumococcus. Within recent years, there have been several reports indicating that CRP is commonly found in patients with cancer.'. 2, & 6, * These studies, based on detection of CRP either by the (pneumococcus) capsular swelling method1 or by precipitation in capillary tubes with specific antiserum,2.516# 8 did not provide quantitative data. We have therefore determined the serum CRP levels in a group of patients with cancer by using the quantitative complement-fixation method we recently developed.3
Methods
Random serum specimens were obtained fresh from the routine clinical biochemistry laboratory. The sera were kept frozen. CRP content was determined within 5 days by the method previously described.8
The diagnosis and other information related to the patient's clinical condition on the date the blood sample was taken were subsequently obtained from the individual charts. RESULTS C-Reactive Protein Levels. In practice, CRP is detected by visual estimation of the quantity From the Division of Laboratories and Research.