Prognostic value of serum levels of immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM and IgE) in breast cancer: a preliminary study.

One hundred and sixty women admitted for breast tumour biopsy to the King's College Hospital group have been followed sequentially for 2 years. Sixty-nine women had early operable breast cancer and 91 had benign breast disease. All these women had serum immunoglobulin IgG, IgA, IgM and IgE levels measured preoperatively and postoperatively at 3 months, 1 year and 2 years. No differences were found in any of the serum immunoglobulin levels between the two groups at any time. There was, however, a positive correlation between the extent of metastatic breast cancer and the serum level of various immunoglobulins, particularly IgA. There was no evidence that routine postoperative radiotherapy influenced the levels of serum immunoglobulins. The findings suggest a secondary defence reaction against increasing tumour load, and do not support the theory of an early immune defect in immunoglobulin metabolism which could play a part in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. Although there is no diagnostic value in measuring the levels of serum immunoglobulins in patients with breast tumours, there may be some value in following the levels in cancer patients, as a guide to subclinical spread of the disease.