The behaviour of beta-2-microglobulin in acute and chronic leukaemias

Two hundred-one patients (97 leukaemias, 18 lymphoproliferative disorders, 86 solid tumors) were studied for B2M by radioimmune technique. Serum levels were high in all cases, excepting for ALL which presented normal values in 81% of the patients. The follow-up of the microprotein was carried out in 17 patients with acute leukaemias. The data obtained seem to suggest that subjects with high serum levels of B2M at the beginning of the disease do not respond favourably to chemotherapy.