title: Preoperative serum lactate dehydrogenase levels in colorectal and gastric cancer: a hospital-based case-control study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To reveal correlations between serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels and various clinicopathological parameters in colorectal and gastric cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A hospital-based case-control study was conducted by measuring serum LDH levels in 140 patients with colorectal cancer, 40 patients with gastric cancer and 20 hospital controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LDH levels did not differ between patients with colorectal or gastric cancer and hospital controls. In colorectal cancer, LDH values were significantly higher in T4, N2 and/or M1 cases, with high specificities and negative predictive values, but low sensitivities and positive predictive values. On the other hand, there were no significant associations in gastric cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum LDH levels are increased in T4, N2 and/or M1 colorectal cancer. Most patients with early-stage cancer have normal LDH values, whereas in advanced stages, some patients have increased LDH values and others have normal values.
authors: Second Department of Propedeutic Surgery, 'Laiko' General Hospital, University of Athens Medical School, 11527 Athens, Greece. i.d.kostakis@gmail.com
authors: Ioannis D
authors: ID
authors: Kostakis
authors: Aristeidis G
authors: AG
authors: Vaiopoulos
authors: Anastassios
authors: A
authors: Philippou
authors: Athanasios G
authors: AG
authors: Papavassiliou
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Koutsilieris
authors: Gregory
authors: G
authors: Kouraklis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D057234:Preoperative Period; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase