The possible prognostic usefulness of assessing serum proteins and cholesterol in malignancy.

Serial measurement of serum proteins, albumin, and cholesterol levels was used in attempt to assess the course and prognosis in cancer patients. This assessment is based on the fact that their declines followed first order kinetics and that these patients usually died when their levels were lower than half the initial levels. Two categories of cancer patients were identified: those in whom the initial measurements of serum albumin or cholersterol, taken soon after diagnosis, were declining (Group I), and those who showed such a decline as they entered an advanced or terminal phase (Group II). Group I included cancer of the stomach, kidney, lung (adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma), oral cavity, large intestine, breast (40%), bladder, ovary (70%), pancreas, and prostate; leukemia (acute myeloid and lymphocytic); and Hodgkin's disease (60%), all of which accounted for approximately 90% of the major causes of cancer deaths. Group II included Hodgkin's disease (40%), and cancer of the ovary (30%) and breast (60%), all of which accounted for 10% of the major causes of cancer deaths.