Serum levels of beta-2 microglobulin in oral tumor patients.

Beta-2 microglobulin (beta-MG) is a low molecular weight protein of 100 amino-acids. It is the light chain of HLA-A, -B or -C antigens which on the surface of nearly all nucleated cells. Clinically, the serum levels of beta-MG are increased in patients with renal failure, immune disorders, and various malignant diseases. In this study, the serum levels of beta-MG were measured clinically for a total of 114 cases. Diverse conditions were ensured by biopsy except for 10 control cases, and the following eight groups were diversified: (1) control group, 10 cases; (2) oral carcinoma, 36 cases; (3) mixed tumor, 7 cases; (4) pyogenic granuloma, 12 cases; (5) leukoplakia, 18 cases; (6) mucocele, 15 cases; (7) ameloblastoma, 7 cases; (8) fibroma, 9 cases. The serum levels of beta-MG in oral cancer and leukoplakia patients were found to be significantly higher compared with that of the control group and patients with benign oral tumors. Further study to unravel the correlations between the clinical stages, the treatment of oral cancer, and beta-MG is now in progress.