Serum enzymes in colorectal cancer.
A study of the value of serum enzymes in 184 patients with colorectal cancer has been performed. The enzymes studied were gamma glutamyltransferase (gammaGT), alkaline phosphatase (AP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), 5'-nucleotidase (5'-NT), glutathione reductase (GR), alanine and aspartate transaminases. In patients without liver metastases, elevated enzyme levels were found in 11-55% preoperatively. 5'-NT showed the least number of elevated activities, while gammaGT activities were increased in 29% and LDH in 55%. The percentage of elevated enzyme levels rose significantly in the early postoperative period. Patients with liver metastases showed increased enzyme activities in 40-60% preoperatively: gammaGT was the most sensitive indicator. Increased enzyme activity was related to the degree of liver involvement with secondary tumor. With extensive liver metastases, gammaGT levels were increased in 82%. It is concluded that serum enzymes are of limited value in the preoperative detection of liver metastases, and particularly when tumor involvement of the liver is small.
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D004798:Enzymes / Q000097:blood*; D005980:Glutathione Reductase / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D009699:N-Glycosyl Hydrolases / Q000097:blood; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
D004798:Enzymes; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D005980:Glutathione Reductase; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D009699:N-Glycosyl Hydrolases