Solid tumors and enzyme activity in human lymphocytes.
A study on the enzyme activity of glucose metabolism in the lymphocytes of patients with solid malignant tumors is reported. The results have shown a 30% mean increase of the hexokinase (HK) activity in patients with solid malignant tumors as compared to the mean value observed in a group of healthy subjects. A relationship between level of HK increase and stage of tumor was also observed. The other examined enzyme activities, phosphofructokinase (PFK), pyruvate-kinase (PK), phosphoglycerate-kinase (PGK), phosphoglucoisomerase (PGI), glyceraldehyde-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPD) glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6PD), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-PGD) and enolase did not show significant changes. It is concluded that even though the use of HK as tumor marker cannot be hypothesized at the present time, a significant relation between an increased activity of this enzyme and presence of the tumor is unquestionable. Therefore, this biochemical effect induced away from the neoplastic tissue deserves further study.
Giacchi
R
R
Divisione di Chirurgia Generale, Ospedali Riuniti, Pesaro.
Sebastiani
M
M
Canestrari
F
F
Di Quirico
M
M
Lungarotti
F
F
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000201:enzymology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002237:Carbohydrate Dehydrogenases / Q000097:blood; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology; D004067:Digestive System Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D005956:Glucose-6-Phosphate Isomerase / Q000097:blood; D005987:Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000097:blood; D010770:Phosphotransferases / Q000097:blood
D002237:Carbohydrate Dehydrogenases; D005987:Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases; D010770:Phosphotransferases; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase; D005956:Glucose-6-Phosphate Isomerase