A voluminous literature exists relating to increased serum mucoprotein (referred to as Mp) levels in cancer and other malignant tumors. Many problems, however, remain to be solved concerning the site of its production, its metabolism, and the differences between physiologic Mp and the increased Mp in malignant disorders. Concerning the site of production of the pathologically increased Mp and glycoprotein, Seibert et al.1,2,3) advocated a tissue destruction theory, whereas Shetlar et al.4,5)

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... tulated a tissue proliferation or repair theory. Winzler6) compared the polarographic filtrate waves of the outflow blood of tumors with blood of the heart, and reported that the active substance causing the reaction originated in the tumor itself. Greenspan7) divided the sites of production into hepatic and extrahepatic sources, owing to the fact that diminution of Mp was observed in cases with dysfunction of liver, such as cirrhosis of the liver; and its elevation was observed following the development of certain extrahepatic diseases, such as pneumonia, or hepatic tumor, either primary or metastatic. Furthermore, Gersh8) and Catchpole9,10) have suggested that the increase of serum Mp and glycoprotein may be due to the liberation of water-soluble substance from connective tissue by depolymerization