Plasma immunoglobulin levels in patients with breast cancer.

The plasma levels of the immunoglobulins IgA, IgG and IgM have been measured in 55 patients with benign breast disease, 28, 68 and 22 patients with early breast cancer one day before, 10-14 days after and three-six months after mastectomy, respectively, and 35 normal healthy control women. The mean levels of IgA, IgG and IgM were similar for all groups examined except for IgG levels in breast cancer patients 10-14 days after mastectomy. In this latter case there was a significant decrease in IgG level shortly after mastectomy but at three-six months after surgery the amounts of plasma IgG were within the normal range. There was no correlation between the amounts of immunoglobulin measured at 10-14 days after surgery, and time to recurrence of the disease.