Serum amyloid A (SAA) variations in patients with cancer: correlation with disease activity, stage, primary site, and prognosis

• Published in: Journal of clinical pathology Vol. 39; no. 7; pp. 794 - 797
• Main Authors: Biran, H, Friedman, N, Neumann, L, Pras, M, Shainkin-Kestenbaum, R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Association of Clinical Pathologists 01.07.1986; BMJ; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Amyloid - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Breast Neoplasms - blood; Colonic Neoplasms - blood; Female; Host-tumor relations. Immunology. Biological markers; Humans; Lung Neoplasms - blood; Male; Medical sciences; Neoplasm Staging; Neoplasms - blood; Prognosis; Rectal Neoplasms - blood; Serum Amyloid A Protein - metabolism; Time Factors; Tumors; Human; Clinical stage; Prognosis; Biological marker; Serum; Tumor; Amyloid; Apolipoproteins
• ISSN: 0021-9746; 1472-4146
• DOI: 10.1136/jcp.39.7.794

Serum amyloid A (SAA) was determined in 160 patients with cancer. Active disease was associated with high titre compared with the titre in non-active condition (31.8 v 5.8 micrograms/ml, respectively; p = 0.0002). SAA value showed a direct correlation with the stage of the disease: it was lowest at stages 1 and 2 and highest at the metastatic stage 4 (stage 1 v 4, p = 0.001; stage 2 v 3, p = 0.05). Cancers of the lung and unknown primary site were characterised by highly increased SAA concentration. Initial SAA value had prognostic significance: a value below 10 micrograms/ml correlated with survival advantage, whereas a higher initial value indicated a greater likelihood of a poor outcome (actuarial survival analysis p less than 0.001). When stage was accounted for, initial SAA value had significant prognostic bearing on survival of patients with advanced disease (stages 3 and 4) but not on that of patients with limited disease (stages 1 and 2). Serial testing showed good concordance between changes in SAA titre and clinical course.