[Clinical investigation of serum immunosuppressive acidic protein (IAP) in patients with gastric cancer].

Immunosuppressive acidic protein (IAP) is among the immunosuppressive factors so far detected in the blood of cancer patients. This study was undertaken to determine the blood level of IAP in patients with carcinoma of the gastrointestinal tract, particularly the stomach, and to define the clinical implications of IAP for the therapy. A close correlationship was established between the serum IAP level and the gross degree of malignancy of the tumor and clinical stage of disease, notably in patients with gastric cancer; the serum IAP level was increased with as the disease advanced, the increase being significant in the presence of metastasis or extensive spread of the lesion.