[Experiences with the macrophage electrophoresis mobility test (MEM test) in the diagnosis of malignant gynecological diseases]

Abstract

In 1970, Field and Caspary reported that lymphocytes from patients with a malignant disease could be stimulated by an encephalitogenic factor, the myelin basic protein from human brain. After in vitro incubation with this protein the stimulated lymphocytes release a factor ("macrophage slowing factor") which reduces the electrophoretic mobility of guinea-pig macrophages. In general, this effect was not found in lymphocytes from patients with non-malignant disease. On the base of this unexpected finding the hitherto most successful way to an universal and early in vitro test for cancer detection was established. Experiences are reported with the macrophage-electrophoretic-mobility-test (MEM-test) at 38 patients with malignant and 16 patients with non-malignant gynaecological disease in various stages of disease and treatment. The test was positive in all malignant diseases. Significance and perspectives of the test system with respect to the tumour diagnostic were discussed.