Clinical studies on serum immunosuppressive acidic protein (IAP) and ferritin in gastric cancer patients: with special reference to preoperative value and influence of surgical stress.

Serum IAP and ferritin values were measured preoperatively in 83 resectable gastric cancer patients. IAP was significantly higher in them than in normal subjects, and increased gradually with progression of cancer, and the values at stages III and IV were significantly higher than that at stage I. It was significantly higher in the cases of n(+) than in those of n(-), and in the cases of noncurative resection than in those of curative resection. Ferritin was significantly higher in them than in normal subjects and mammary cancer patients, and in males than in females, and the values at stages I and IV were significantly higher than that at stage III. OK-432 was serially administered pre- and postoperatively in 83 cases and only postoperatively in 33 cases. IAP increased markedly at 1 week postoperatively and was reduced gradually at 2 and 4 weeks. Ferritin increased markedly at 1 week after operation and reached the maximum value at 2 weeks and was reduced toward the value of 1 week at 4 weeks. However, these changes showed no significant difference between the both groups.