A change in the physical state of a nonequilibrium blood plasma protein film in patients with carcinoma

Pronounced changes in the physical phase and in the phase transition dynamics of proteins in drying blood plasma are observed. The morphologies (topologies) of these nonequilibrium films in donors and in patients with various types of metastatic carcinoma qualitatively differ by the process of protein film self-assembly and by symmetry type. New types of defects and solid crystals appear, liquid crystals persist for a long time, etc. The microscopic examination of the drying protein plasma topology can be used for diagnosing metastatic carcinoma. (C) 2002 MAIK Nauka / Interperiodica.