title: Positive correlation between high aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity and primary lung cancer as analyzed in cryopreserved lymphocytes.
abstract: Blood samples from closely monitored patients at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Houston, Texas, were collected, coded, and sent to Microbiological Associates over an 8-month period. Lymphocytes were isolated and cryopreserved at -190 degrees. Lymphocyte samples were simultaneously thawed, phytohemagglutinin activated, and analyzed for benz(a)anthracene-induced aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) levels, [3H]thymidine incorporation, and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dependent cytochrome b5 (cytochrome c) reductase activity. Determinations were made at both 96 and 120 hr in culture, and peak activities were compared among a total of 51 individuals who expressed such lesions as squamous cell carcinomas (22%), adenocarcinomas (14%), oat cell carcinomas (6%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (22%), and other nonmalignant diseases. Of the 14 highest AHH/cytochrome c activities observed, all were found in patients with primary lung cancer. Mean AHH/cytochrome c activities were 0.89 for lung cancer patients (a total of 21) and 0.47 for noncancer patients (a total of 30) (p less than 0.001). No relationship was observed between AHH/cytochrome c activity and age of patient, numbers of cigarettes smoked, family history of cancer, location or histological type of tumor, or level of phytohemagglutinin blastogenesis ([3H]thymidine cpm/cytochrome c). Whether the higher AHH levels are the cause or the result of the primary lung cancer remains to be determined.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases / Q000378:metabolism*; D003470:Culture Media; D003574:Cytochrome c Group / Q000378:metabolism; D004261:DNA Replication; D005615:Freezing; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014021:Tissue Preservation
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D003574:Cytochrome c Group; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases