SERUM BETA-2-MICROGLOBULIN IN WOMEN WITH BREAST-CANCER AND IN AGE-MATCHED, NON-HOSPITALIZED CONTROLS

Recently, reports have shown an increase of β2-microglobulin in malignant disorders of different types including breast cancer. The present study was undertaken to evaluate further serum levels of β2-microglobulin in 129 patients with breast cancer at various stages. As serum β2-microglobulin concentration is significantly correlated to age, age-matched controls were used for comparisons. No significant difference was found in serum β2-microglobulin levels in patients with breast cancer compared to age-matched controls, even when the levels were higher than reported for healthy individuals. The β2-microglobulin concentration was not correlated to the TNM classification of the tumour. In order to compensate for the influence of renal function on serum β2-microglobulin levels, the quotient between β2-microglobulin and creatinine was calculated in 93 patients. The quotient was neither related to the stage of the disease nor to the tumour diameter. In 16 patients β2-microglobulin was determined at different times in relation to mastectomy. There were no significant changes in circulating β2-microglobulin levels after removal of the primary tumour. The present study underlines the need for age-matched controls, since serum β2-microglobulin increases with age. The reason for such an increase could however only be speculated on, but may be explained by the high frequency of diseases causing known elevation in serum β2-microglobulin such as infections of inflammatory disorders, liver diseases or renal dysfunction. Further studies must be undertaken in other malignancies before the role of serum β2-microglobulin determination in such disorders can be stated. © 1979.