[Serum beta 2 microglobulin in patients with solid tumors and tumors of the hematopoietic system]

In order to know the usefulness of beta-2-microglubulin as a tumor marker, the authors measured by radioimmunoassay its serum concentration in 222 patients with solid tumors of different localization. 116 patients with hematologic neoplasms, and 254 cases grouping healthy individuals and patients with diseases other than cancer. The upper limit of normality was considered as 3 micrograms/ml; 35.6 per 100 of the investigated solid tumors and 43.8 per 100 of the blood-forming organs neoplasms gave values higher than 3 micrograms/ml, against only 5 and 10 per 100 of the healthy and non-cancer patients respectively used as a control. Many cancer patients did not show an augmentation of beta-2-microglobulin. The authors consider that beta-2-microglobulin does not offer enough sensitivity and specificity to be used as a tumor marker.