子宮頚癌症例におけるハプトグロビン

Haptoglobin is commonly known as a hemoglobin binding protein, and is an acute phase protein. Haptoglogin increases in inflammation and cancer, and acts as an immunosupressive agent. The relationship between serum haptoglobin and clinical staga and prognosis was studied in 127 uterine carcinoma patients. The haptoglobin level increased in relation to the clincal stage. Abnormal haptoglobin levels (mean+2SD or more) were studied in 127 patients. They were found in 0/37 cases (0.0%) in stage Ⅰ, 2/48(4.2%) in stage Ⅱ, 9/31(29.0%) in stage Ⅲ and 7/11 (63.6%) in stage Ⅳ(p<0.0001). Sixteen cases with abnormal haptoglobin level found in stages Ⅲ and Ⅳ, and eight cases (50.0%) died within one year. Twenty-six cases with a normal haptoglobin level were found in stages Ⅲ and Ⅳ. Only one case (3.8%) died within one year. The clinical stage ia a most important prognostic factor. However, the cases with an abnormal haptoglobin level had poor prognosis within one year in this study. Determination of the haptoglogin level prior to treatment will be useful for the selection of the high risk group of carcinoma of uterine cervix.