C1q-BINDING SUBSTANCES IN PERIPHERAL LYMPH IN BRONCHIAL CARCINOMA

Abstract

Peripheral leg lymph has been studied for the presence

Of C1q-binding substances by the ¹²⁵1-C1q binding

radioassay in six male patients with untreated bronchial

carcinoma. In serum, this assay is highly specific

for antigen-antibody complexes (immune complexes).

Three of the patients had immune complexes

in serum, and they all also had C1q-binding substances

in peripheral lymph. The C1q-binding activity

was quite similar in serum and peripheral lymph. In

the other three patients, immune complexes were not

found in serum, but in ·one of them, moderate amounts

of C1q-binding substances were found in peripheral

lymph. The results suggest that immune complexes

may be found in peripheral lymph in cancer patients

in about the same amounts as in serum. However,

formal proof is lacking that the C1q-binding substances

of peripheral lymph are real immune complexes.