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Polarographic Investigations in Serological Cancer Diagnosis

Abstract

IT has been mentioned in these columns1 that the polarographic wave produced on the current-voltage curve by sulphydryl or disulphidic groups of serum proteins can be used to distinguish between normal and carcinomatic serum. In the case of cancer the height of this characteristic protein wave is always found a little lower than that in the normal serum. However, when the sera are treated with alkali hydroxide, the height of the protein wave increases in the carcinomatic serum less than in the normal serum. Thus the differences between them are considerably increased. This circumstance has to be ascribed to the liberation of sulphydryl or disulphidic groups of serum proteins as the result of their alkaline denaturation. (Cf. Mirsky and Anson2.)

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References

  1. NATURE, 139, 330 (1937).

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  2. Mirsky, A. E., and Anson, M. L., J. Gen. Physiol., 19, 427 and 439 (1936).

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  3. Brdika, R., Collection, 5, 238 (1933).

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  4. Mirsky, A. E., and Anson, M. L., J. Gen. Physiol., 18, 307 (1935).

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BRDIKA, R. Polarographic Investigations in Serological Cancer Diagnosis. Nature 139, 1020–1021 (1937). https://doi.org/10.1038/1391020a0

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