[Urine levels of immunosuppressive acidic protein in patients with or without cancer].

The urine levels of immunosuppressive acidic protein (IAP) were measured in patients with or without cancer, using 24-h urine samples for passive hemagglutination inhibition test. In 27 control healthy adults, the urine levels of IAP were 0.02-1.3mg/day. Of the patients with gastrointestinal tract disease, an elevation of IAP levels was seen in 84 (40%) out of 209 cases with cancer and in 10(19%) out of 53 cases without cancer. In cancer patients who had curative operation, urine levels of IAP increased transitorily 3 days after operation but decreased gradually within 10 days. In the recurrent cases of the patients, urine levels of IAP increased again in accordance with the recurrence. In cancer patients who had not curative operation, IAP in the urine maintained high levels. Accordingly, serial IAP determination of the urine appeared to provide a useful marker for follow-up of the patients with cancer.