Serum complement levels in patients with cancer of the uterine cervix before and after radiation therapy

Using the single radial immunodiffusion method the level of the third component of the complement was investigated in 153 cervix cancer patients. In some cases the level of the fourth component of the complement and total hemolytic activity of the complement were simultaneously determined. The C'3 values elicited a polarized distribution pattern in contrast to the normal distribution of the controls. Mean C'3 level increased simultaneously with the progress of the disease up to Stage III, and decreased only in Stage IV. On the contrary, C'4 level was stable and practically equaled the normal value. Total hemolytic activity of the complement in cervix cancer patients usually exceeded normal values. The C'3 changes during radiation therapy contradicted its role as an acute phase protein. (author)