[Immunoglobulins and the complement system in colorectal cancer]

In the present paper is studied the concentration in peripheral blood of immunoglobulins IgG, IgA, IgM and factors C3 and C4 of the complement system in a group of 120 patients with colorectal cancer operated on with radical intention. Preoperative values are compared to postoperative results and the values obtained on diagnosis of tumoral recurrence with the object of describing possible immunologic alterations existent in the patient with colorectal carcinoma. It is concluded that there are no significant relations between the biochemical parameters studied and age, sex, tumoral localization and Duke's clinical stages. Patients with pre and postoperative IgA values above normal present a poor prognosis, with an associated recurrence of 60% (p = 0.001) and 80% (p = 0.000), respectively; postoperative C3 levels above normal also represent a factor of poor prognosis, recurrence appearing in 80% (p = 0.001) and metastases in 85% (p = 0.000).