Alterations of alpha₂ globulin and clinical response in patients with prostatic cancer following cryotherapy

Progressively elevated levels of serum α₂ globulin reportedly occur in various malignant neoplasms, including prostatic cancer, with a progression from locally invasive to metastatic disease. Based upon these reports, it has been suggested that increased levels of α₂ globulin may be of prognostic value, once the diagnosis has been obtained, as an indicator of the stage of prostatic malignancy. In an attempt to evaluate further the potential usefulness of alterations of α₂ globulin in the study of prostatic cancer, the sera of 18 patients with prostatic malignancy were evaluated by cellulose acetate electrophoresis followed by densitometric quantitation prior to and following cryotherapy of their primary prostatic tumour. Observations suggest, pending evaluation of a larger patient population, that α₂ globulin may in addition to its prognostic potential as applied to stage identification, provide an objective criterion for monitoring the clinical response of an individual following cryotherapy.