Abstract

The concentration of a pregnancy-associated alpha-macroglobulin (PAM) was determined in the blood of patients with various cancers. PAM was detectable in subjects with all types of malignant disease studied, and the level of the serum protein correlated well with the course of the disease: the concentration increased before clinical recognition of metastases and decreased significantly on successful treatment. Periodic PAM determinations may allow detection of tumour recurrence while it is still at a treatable stage and could aid in the evaluation of therapy.