Circulating immune complexes as "tumor marker" in hepatoma-bearing rats (Yoshida AH 130).

The presence of circulating immune complexes (CIC) in a large number of malignancies was investigated in relation to the activity, the extent and the clinical course of the tumor clone. The aim of this study was to explore the relation between CIC serum levels and tumor growth in rats bearing the 130 Yoshida ascites hepatoma. For the assay of C3biCIC levels all samples were tested by a new competitive immunoenzymatic test. Experiments carried out on normal rats and on hepatoma-bearing ones, showed that during tumor growth values of CIC serum levels expressed as percent coefficient of inhibition are significantly higher in hepatoma-bearing rats (mean = 60.2) than in the normal controls (mean = 29.5). Furthermore CIC level and tumor proliferation are strictly correlated r = 0.9559. In this view sequential measurements of CIC levels may be valuable in establishing diagnosis, estimating prognosis and monitoring the behavior of neoplasia.