Search for blocking factors in sera of patients with prostatic cancer

Sera from patients with carcinoma of the prostate were screened for the presence of blocking factors by measuring the inhibition of phytohemagglutinin-induced blastogenesis of normal lymphocytes. The blastogenic index obtained in cancer sera is not significantly different from that obtained in sera of patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy (control group). Determination of alpha-2-globulins in the cancer sera by cellulose acetate electrophoresis revealed slightly elevated levels in patients with metastatic disease but it did not correlate with the inhibitory blocking activity of the serum.