Serum immunoglobulin concentrations in sera of patients with carcinoma of the cervix

Serum immunoglobulin concentrations were determined in 19 patients with cancer of the cervix and 49 healthy control women matched for age and parity. A significantly greater number of the cancer patients showed evidence of high levels (greater than mean ± 2 SD of the healthy control levels) of IgG and IgA, but not the IgM levels, as compared with the healthy controls. The possibility that these raised serum immunoglobulins are specific for tumor-antigens contained within or on the surface of malignant cells was discussed.