Foetal steroid binding protein and malignancy

Foetal steroid binding protein (FSBP) is a normal constituent of adult human serum; in vivo it appears to influence the degree of steroid binding to albumin rather than acting primarily as a high affinity saturable binding protein. Serum levels are elevated in patients with parenchymal liver disease, hepatic malignancy and in those with non-metastatic breast cancer. That FSBP is protective against the development of breast carcinoma is however supported by a comparison of healthy women from racial groups at differing risk of this malignancy in which higher levels are found in those at lower risk. This hypothesis and the possible links between FSBP and primary hepatocellular carcinoma are further examined.