Skip to main content
British Journal of Cancer logoLink to British Journal of Cancer
. 1983 Jan;47(1):111–114. doi: 10.1038/bjc.1983.13

Evaluation of serum beta 2-microglobulin as a prognostic indicator in myelomatosis.

J A Child, S M Crawford, D R Norfolk, J O'Quigley, J H Scarffe, L P Struthers
PMCID: PMC2011252  PMID: 6185132

Abstract

Serum beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-m) is frequently increased in patients with myelomatosis. The possibility that it could provide a biochemical indicator of prognosis was tested in a group of 129 patients from 3 centres, all serum analyses being carried out in one laboratory by radioimmunoassay. A strong association between the pretreatment serum beta 2-m level and survival was demonstrated, the data for the 2 main subgroups being very similar. In further detailed analyses of 64 patients, serum beta 2-m proved to be a stronger indicator of prognosis than current "standard" clinical and laboratory data, including stage determined by the method of Durie and Salmon and the combination of haemoglobin level and blood urea. The association between serum beta 2-m and survival remained close after treatment as indicated by the findings at one year. The serum beta 2-m in myeloma reflects the tumour mass and also reduced glomerular filtration when renal failure supervenes. It is concluded that the serum beta 2-m is a powerful prognostic indicator in myelomatosis and of considerable value in the investigation of patients with the disease.

Full text

PDF
111

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Amlot P. L., Adinolfi M. B2-microglobulin, a tumour marker of lymphoproliferative disorder. Lancet. 1978 Aug 26;2(8087):476–476. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(78)91482-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Bataille R., Magub M., Sany J., Donadio D., Izarn P., Grenier J., Suquet P. Bêta-2-microglobuline sérique au cours du myélome multiple. Intérêt pratique. Rev Rhum Mal Osteoartic. 1981 Mar;48(3):235–240. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Child J. A., Spati B., Illingworth S., Barnard D., Corbett S., Simmons A. V., Stone J., Worthy T. S., Cooper E. H. Serum beta 2 microglobulin and C-reactive protein in the monitoring of lymphomas: findings in a multicenter study and experience in selected patients. Cancer. 1980 Jan 15;45(2):318–326. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(19800115)45:2<318::aid-cncr2820450220>3.0.co;2-c. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Cresswell P., Springer T., Strominger J. L., Turner M. J., Grey H. M., Kubo R. T. Immunological identity of the small subunit of HL-A antigens and beta2-microglobulin and its turnover on the cell membrane. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1974 May;71(5):2123–2127. doi: 10.1073/pnas.71.5.2123. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Durie B. G., Salmon S. E. A clinical staging system for multiple myeloma. Correlation of measured myeloma cell mass with presenting clinical features, response to treatment, and survival. Cancer. 1975 Sep;36(3):842–854. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(197509)36:3<842::aid-cncr2820360303>3.0.co;2-u. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Norfolk D., Child J. A., Cooper E. H., Kerruish S., Ward A. M. Serum beta 2-microglobulin in myelomatosis: potential value in stratification and monitoring. Br J Cancer. 1980 Oct;42(4):510–515. doi: 10.1038/bjc.1980.273. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Parker D., Malpas J. S. Multiple myeloma. J R Coll Physicians Lond. 1979 Jul;13(3):146–153. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Woodruff R. K., Wadsworth J., Malpas J. S., Tobias J. S. Clinical staging in multiple myeloma. Br J Haematol. 1979 Jun;42(2):199–205. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1979.tb01124.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from British Journal of Cancer are provided here courtesy of Cancer Research UK

RESOURCES