Early detection of liver metastasis in patients with colorectal carcinoma by increased levels of circulating IgA- and IgM-associated secretory component.

One hundred patients operated for colorectal carcinoma were followed clinically and with serial blood samples from 5 to 8 years. Levels of secretory component (SC) associated with IgA and IgM in serum were measured and related to Dukes' stage, histological differentiation, tumour expression of SC, and circulating carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). On the whole, elevated levels of SC in serum were found in 15 of the 20 patients who already had (n = 15), or later developed (n = 5), liver metastasis. Four of the latter 5 patients showed raised SC levels with a 5.5 months median lead time from the first positive serum sample to clinically manifest liver disease. These data are interesting in view of the promising results reported for liver resection in patients with colorectal carcinoma.