Albumin and hepatic protein synthesis in patients with early cancer

Abstract

The synthesis capacity of albumin and hepatic proteins was studied in vitro in hepatic tissue from 21 patients with early-stage cancer and without liver metastasis and from 26 control subjects. Hepatic tissue was obtained intraoperatively and incubated under protein synthesizing conditions. Albumin was isolated with monospecific antiserum. Cancer patients showed an increased capacity for hepatic protein synthesis and an unchanged capacity for synthesis and intracellular transport of albumin. The ratio between the synthesis of hepatic protein and albumin was statistically significantly increased in cancer patients. The albumin synthesis was inversely correlated to a body weight index in cancer patients (r = −0.62), suggesting the presence of a compensatory mechanism for enhanced albumin synthesis in patients who are unable to ingest sufficient quantities of nutrients to supply the demands of the host and the tumor. Cancer 46:71–76, 1980.