Rheumatoid factor lacks association with either tumor burden or IgG-circulating immune complexes in cancer patients

Rheumatoid factor (RF) seropositivity and its association with immune complex (IC) elevation were estimated in 100 patients with a variety of solid tumors, in 105 patients with IC-associated diseases, 30 patients with non-IC-associated diseases and in 35 normal healthy controls. The rate of RF positivity in cancer patients (31%) was same as in case of IC-associated diseases (28%) and did not differ significantly from those patients (15%) where as IC elevation was clearly showing relations to tumor progression but rheumatoid factor was not. Rheumatoid factor and IC status was also investigated but no interrelationship has been found, in cancer patients and in inpatients with other disease. It reflects that RF has no role in progressive tumor growth or in immune response to IgG containing immune complexes.