[Diagnosis of cancer using lymphocyte electrophoresis (2)]

The surface charge of lymphocytes in cancer patients was analyzed in follow-up periods using an automated cell electrophoretic instrument (Parmoquant), and the changes in electrophoretic mobility pattern were compared with the results of the general clinical tests. The ratio of slow cells(mobility less than 0.95 micron/sec/V/cm) to fast cells(mobility greater than or equal to 0.95) (S/F ratio) was increased according to clinical stage, and wbs correlated with the levels of CEA, LDH, AI-P, alpha 2-globulin, total protein content and the number of peripheral lymphocytes. As a result of a follow-up study conducted for more than 2 years, the S/F ratio expressed the general condition of the patients and had better correlation with performance status than CEA, LDH, AI-P etc. The pattern analysis of lymphocyte electrophoresis may be useful for evaluation of patients' status, judgement of medical treatment and early detection of recurrence, because this method is very easy to assay and highly reproducible.