title: Blood muramidase activity in colorectal cancer.
abstract: The serum muramidase levels were measured in 128 patients with primary or metastatic colorectal cancer, 166 tumour-free patients after resection of a colorectal cancer, and 172 controls. Muramidase levels over 10 mug/ml were detected in 30%-39% of the tumour-bearing patients, in 8.2% of the tumour free, and in only 1.7% of the controls (normal level 6.68 +/- 1.42 mug/ml). Long-term follow up indicated that raised levels may occur as a transient phenomenon in recurrent or metastatic disease. The likely relation of abnormal serum muramidase activity and stimulation of the reticuloendothelial system is discussed.
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology; D007931:Leucyl Aminopeptidase / Q000097:blood; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology; D009113:Muramidase / Q000097:blood*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology*; D012008:Recurrence; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D003404:Creatinine; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D009113:Muramidase; D007931:Leucyl Aminopeptidase