Staining Technique in Disc Electrophoresis for Disclosing Absence of Normal Serum Proteins in Patients with Hematologic Neoplasms

Summary

The serum protein patterns of 55 patients with various neoplasms were compared by specially stained disc electrophoresis with patterns obtained from 29 control sera. Two control bands, representing at least two different proteins with alpha-2-globulin mobility, were absent from 30 patient sera but were present in all controls. The significance of the differences lies in three possibilities: (i) absence of synthesis; (ii) partial synthesis of the bands, both of which would mean defects in regulation (though this is unlikely); or (iii) altered mobility of the bands, suggesting mutation in the structural genes. The preparative disc electrophoresis technique may resolve the nature of the defect by providing the two proteins in reasonably pure form. Trends in patient groups suggest that possibility of expanded differential diagnosis of lymphomas with this technique.