[Inflammatory reaction and laboratory tests: IAP (immunosuppressive acidic protein)]

The immunosuppressive acidic protein (IAP), a type of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein has been used as to monitor cancer and inflammation in patients, though it lacks disease specificity. We studied the serum IAP values in 41 patients with renal cell carcinoma. The normal upper limit of serum IAP concentration is 500 micrograms/ml, and a higher value was determined as positive. Serum IAP values and its positive ratios as determined by Robson stage analysis were respectively, 495 + 118 micrograms/ml and 35% (6/17), 757 + 333 micrograms/ml and 90% (9/10), and 921 + 277 micrograms/ml and 100% (14/14), at low (1 + 2) stage, stage 3, and stage 4, respectively. We also studied serum IAP values of the 41 patients above according to Satomi's classification. The positive ratio as 100% (14/14) for the quick type, and 67% (18/27) for the slow type. In addition, we studied the serial serum IAP values in these patients. The serum IAP values decreased to or were within the normal range by one month after operation in 10 patients with curative nephrectomy, while in 8 patients with non-curative nephrectomy abnormally high levels of serum IAP were seen one month after operation except in one case. The serum IAP value was considered as a useful factor in determining the prognosis of patients with renal cell carcinoma.