has anyone heard of this?

[Elaine]

Has anyone heard of this in relationship to lung cancer???

AMAS (Anti Malignin Antibody Serum) - If you have a strong family history of cancer you may want to consider having this test performed. The AMAS blood test can detect cancer cell activity 1-19 months before an actual tumor is formed. This test does not tell the location of the cancer, so further studies such as a CT scan or MRI may be needed if the AMAS test is positive. Top

The AMAS test is used by doctors as an aid in the early detection of Cancer.

The test measures serum levels of Anti-Malignin Antibodies. Anti-Malignin

Antibodies is a well defined antibodiy in which serum levels rise early in

the course of disease. This test is used together with other clinical

procedures and test which suggest where the lesion is located but does not

determine whether the pathology is benign or malignant. The AMAS test is

also used to monitor Cancer patients previously treated for the recurrence

or remission of their Cancers.

[Hebbie]

I have not heard of this, but I just copied the info onto a "question sheet" I have for my doctor and will ask him during my next appt in two weeks!

[Alisa]

I heard of this test about a year ago and asked my doctor, who told me he didn't think the test was good and it was a waste of money. However, it sounded good to me anyway. I will definitely be monitoring this thread to see if others have had this test and what their doctors think. Thanks.

[john]

I did a search on pubmed. There is not many studies 5 or so and all are at least 3 years old.

Cancer Detect Prev. 1994;18(1):65-78. Related Articles, Links

Early detection and monitoring of cancer with the anti-malignin antibody test.

Abrams MB, Bednarek KT, Bogoch S, Bogoch ES, Dardik HJ, Dowden R, Fox SC, Goins EE, Goodfried G, Herrman RA, et al.

Beth Israel Hospital, New York, NY.

The serum anti-malignin antibody (AMA) test determines the antibody to malignin, a 10,000-Da peptide present in patients with a wide variety of cancers. A total of 3315 double-blind tests demonstrated that AMA is a general transformation antibody, elevated in active nonterminal cancer, regardless of the site or tissue type, with sensitivity and specificity of 95% on the first determination and > 99% on repeat determinations. Data have not however been published yet that indicate whether, in daily clinical practice, the AMA test provides accurate prospective and predictive information. Forty-two physicians from 11 states, who ordered the AMA test, performed blind, report here on their results on 208 determinations in the first consecutive 181 patients and controls. Used in monitoring treatment in 56 patients, the test predicted or agreed 94.1% overall with the clinical status. Used in early detection in 125 patients and controls, of which 118 now have confirmed diagnoses, AMA was elevated in 21, all of whom were proven to have cancer; AMA was normal in 97, none of whom had cancer. Transient elevated AMA occurred in 3%, followed by normal values. Seven patients with still uncertain diagnosis who have had elevated AMA on repeated tests for 1 year or longer include six who are symptomatic, and three whose families have a high frequency of cancer. The conditions of these 7 may include undetected cancer because of the 118 with now certain diagnosis the AMA test predicted all correctly. From our experience, the AMA test should be used together with other routine procedures whenever signs and symptoms suggest cancer to facilitate early detection.

[john]

I did a search on pubmed. There is not many studies 5 or so and all are at least 3 years old.

http://www.pathguy.com/malignin.htm

Cancer Detect Prev. 1994;18(1):65-78. Related Articles, Links

Early detection and monitoring of cancer with the anti-malignin antibody test.

Abrams MB, Bednarek KT, Bogoch S, Bogoch ES, Dardik HJ, Dowden R, Fox SC, Goins EE, Goodfried G, Herrman RA, et al.

Beth Israel Hospital, New York, NY.

The serum anti-malignin antibody (AMA) test determines the antibody to malignin, a 10,000-Da peptide present in patients with a wide variety of cancers. A total of 3315 double-blind tests demonstrated that AMA is a general transformation antibody, elevated in active nonterminal cancer, regardless of the site or tissue type, with sensitivity and specificity of 95% on the first determination and > 99% on repeat determinations. Data have not however been published yet that indicate whether, in daily clinical practice, the AMA test provides accurate prospective and predictive information. Forty-two physicians from 11 states, who ordered the AMA test, performed blind, report here on their results on 208 determinations in the first consecutive 181 patients and controls. Used in monitoring treatment in 56 patients, the test predicted or agreed 94.1% overall with the clinical status. Used in early detection in 125 patients and controls, of which 118 now have confirmed diagnoses, AMA was elevated in 21, all of whom were proven to have cancer; AMA was normal in 97, none of whom had cancer. Transient elevated AMA occurred in 3%, followed by normal values. Seven patients with still uncertain diagnosis who have had elevated AMA on repeated tests for 1 year or longer include six who are symptomatic, and three whose families have a high frequency of cancer. The conditions of these 7 may include undetected cancer because of the 118 with now certain diagnosis the AMA test predicted all correctly. From our experience, the AMA test should be used together with other routine procedures whenever signs and symptoms suggest cancer to facilitate early detection.