Numerous reports, however, have indicated that a rise in the level of β2M does not necessarily indicate a poor prognosis, suggesting that the changes in β2M expression differ between premalignant and malignant tumours (Mahrle et al, 1982; Korkolopoulou et al, 1996; Feenstra et al, 2000; Palmisano et al, 2001). Here, B2M is linked to cancer.