Prognostic value of serum levels of immunoglobulins (IgA, IgM, IgG, IgE) in patients with colorectal cancer.

In the present study, the serum immunoglobulin levels of 100 patients with colorectal cancer who had undergone antitumor therapy, were measured before and during therapy. We received three samples before therapy and further samples every 2 months after initiation of therapy. It was found that the group of patients having increased IgG (P less than 0.05) and perhaps IgM (P less than 0.1) levels showed a longer time to progression of disease and prolonged overall survival time. Based on this finding we conclude that survival can potentially be correlated with immunoglobulin levels. Studies with large numbers of patients, and orientated towards the correlation of immunoglobulin levels with specific clinical parameters may prove that immunoglobulins can play a prognostic role in survival for colorectal cancer patients.