[Immune serum globulin E in patients with leukoplakia (author's transl)]

Significant changes of humoral factors can occur during the development and growth of malignant tumors. Such can be observed by the periodic recording of immune serum globulin E levels if sensitive RIA methods are employed. Observations of normal persons show largely stable immune serum globulin E levels, and are comparable in patients with leukoplakia of the larynx as well as in patients whose malignant conditions were removed by oepration or radiotherapy. In three patients, a statistically significant increase in serum immune globulin E was recorded immediately before malignant degeneration of known leukoplakia occurred, and was also found in 22 control tumor patients who had experienced local relapses of disease.