[Correlation of alpha-2 pregnancy associated glycoprotein with the clinical course of bronchial carcinoma (author's transl)].

Alpha-2 pregnancy associated glycoprotein is a high molecular, carbohydrate containing plasma protein with unknown biological function. During clinical treatment of 25 patients with bronchial carcinoma alpha-2 PAG was measured by the electroimmuno-diffusion method according to Laurell. A good correlation was observed between alpha-2 PAG serum levels and the course of the disease in 21 patients. Patients whose course of disease could not be influenced therapeutically showed continously increasing levels of alpha-2 PAG; patients who responded to therapy, showed a significant decrease in alpha-2 PAG serum levels. These findings indicate that periodic determinations of serum alpha-2 PAG may be helpful for controlling the course of bronchial carcinoma.