Serum alhpa 1-acid glycoprotein concentrations in healthy and tumor-bearing cats

The purpose of this study was to evaluate alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) concentrations in tumor-bearing and healthy cats. The hypothesis of the present study was that AGP concentrations would be significantly increased in tumor-bearing cats. Serum from 51 healthy and 97 tumor-bearing, client-owned cats was harvested at the time of presentation and stored at -80 degrees C until assayed. Cats with measurable, histologically confirmed malignancies, and healthy cats of similar ages were included. Serum was assayed for AGP concentration by using a radial immunodiffusion method. AGP concentrations were significantly (P = .0051) higher in tumor-bearing (763 +/- 595 microg/mL; mean +/- SD) when compared to healthy cats (501 +/- 377 microg/mL; mean +/- SD). Of the tumor-bearing cats, 35 had carcinomas, 33 had sarcomas, and 26 had discrete, round cell tumors. AGP concentrations were 645 +/- 62 microg/mL, 660 +/- 540 microg/mL, and 967 +/- 860 microg/mL, respectively, and there were no significant differences among the groups.