Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Serum alpha-antitrypsin in patients with lung cancer or abnormal sputum cytology

Journal Article · · Cancer; (United States)
OSTI ID:6818146

Scrum alpha/sub 1/-antitrypsin Pi types and trypsin inhibitory capacity (TIC) were measured in 72 patients with lung cancer and in 196 patients with abnormal sputum cytology but no clinical evidence of lung cancer to determine if a genetic deficiency of alpha/sub 1/-antitrypsin (AAT) predisposes to lung cancer. The distributions of Pi types in these two groups of patients and healthy adults are similar. Serum TIC and AAT concentrations are elevated in lung cancer patients. However, patients with abnormal sputum cytology and no clinical lung cancer have normal levels of serum TIC and AAT. A genetic deficiency of AAT probably does not produce a state of increased susceptibility to the carcinogenic effects of respiratory carcinogens such as tobacco smoke.

Research Organization:
National Insts. of Health, Bethesda, MD
OSTI ID:
6818146
Journal Information:
Cancer; (United States), Journal Name: Cancer; (United States) Vol. 38:4; ISSN CANCA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English