title: Poly (C) avid ribonuclease estimation in patients with solid tumors. A critical evaluation.
abstract: Activity of Poly (C) avid ribonuclease was estimated in sera of 129 patients with different malignancies. All patients had histologically verified carcinomas, normal renal function, and no signs of acute catabolic condition. Activity values were compared with those of normal subjects (U-test, Mann and Whitney) separately for each age decade and type of carcinoma. Patients with ovarian and bronchus carcinoma had statistically elevated activity values throughout all age groups. Colon carcinoma patients showed elevated values in most instances. In patients with pancreatic carcinoma a difference could be detected in only one age group (51-60 years of age). No significant elevation of enzyme activity was detected in carcinoma of the stomach and of the prostate. It is concluded that there are carcinomas leading to elevated ribonuclease activity, although the biological basis of this phenomenon is not understood. No special sensitivity nor specificity of ribonuclease elevation could be demonstrated in pancreatic carcinoma patients. Up to now the usefulness of ribonuclease estimation in prospective carcinoma detection remains questionable.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001984:Bronchial Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology; D011066:Poly C / Q000378:metabolism; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology; D012259:Ribonuclease, Pancreatic / Q000097:blood*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D011066:Poly C; D012259:Ribonuclease, Pancreatic