Seroflocculant activity of ethyl choladienate and various alcohols in the Penn test for cancer.

Abstract

Summary The substance in serum of individuals with cancer and other diseases which gives a positive seroflocculation reaction with ethyl choladienate has been characterized as C-reactive protein. Batyl alcohol gives an analogous reaction in the presence of C-protein. Flocculating properties are also associated with hexadecanol and a variety of other alcohols which were examined. No evidence has been obtained for the consistent presence of another substance in cancer serum giving a flocculation reaction with either ethyl choladienate or batyl alcohol. This reaction involving C-protein offers little hope for exploitation as a means of diagnosis of early cancer.