Serum leucine amino peptidase levels as a marker in testicular tumours.

Serum levels of leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) were studied in 60 patients with testicular tumours and 26 normal individuals, and were found to be significantly elevated in patients with seminomas, nonseminomas and benign tumours of the testis. After treatment the LAP levels decreased in patients with seminomas, nonseminomas and mixed cell carcinomas indicating response to therapy. The quantitative method used for estimation of LAP, which is simple, quick, accurate and cost-effective, could be used more effectively as a tumour marker in testicular malignancies.

Comparative study on determination of alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme LDH-1 by adsorption on DEAE Sephadex A-50 & electrophoresis.

Serum alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (HBDH) and lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme (LDH-1) levels by two techniques viz., adsorption on DEAE Sephadex A-50 and by electrophoresis were estimated in healthy subjects and patients with testicular tumours. The correlation coefficient between HBDH and LDH-1 by adsorption technique was found to be r = 0.8. HBDH was found to have a value almost twice that of LDH-1 by adsorption and electrophoretic technique and the activity of LDH-1 obtained by two methods and of HBDH in normals and patients with testicular tumours could be converted using a factor of 0.557. The quantitative method used for determination of HBDH is reliable, accurate, simple and rapid and therefore has better value in a clinical setting than electrophoresis and adsorption techniques which are laborious and time consuming.

Hyperamylasaemia & related enzyme factors in renal failure associated with benign & malignant conditions.

Total serum amylase activity, its isoenzymes and pancreatic to salivary amylase (P/S) ratio were studied in 40 normal subjects and 47 patients with renal failure, 32 with benign and 15 with malignant conditions. Amylase to creatinine clearance (Cam/Ccr) was studied in 17 normals and 14 patients with renal failure, 10 benign and 4 with malignant diseases. Total amylase activity, and pancreatic and salivary fractions were found to be increased by about 3.4 times the normal in both benign and malignant conditions producing renal failure though the P/S ratio was within the normal range. However, the increase in the urea and creatinine levels in patients could not be related to the increase in serum total amylase. Besides the Cam/Ccr ratio was elevated in patients with both benign and malignant conditions producing renal insufficiency whereas the Cam and Ccr were individually found to be decreased. Why patients with chronic renal failure in both conditions without clinical evidence of pancreatitis should have elevated Cam/Ccr ratio is not clear.

Study of total serum amylase, its salivary and pancreatic fraction and the pancreatic to salivary amylase ratio in testicular tumours.

Serum levels of total amylase, its pancreatic fraction (P), salivary fraction (S), and the ratio of pancreatic to salivary fraction (P/S) were determined in 52 cases of histologically proved testicular germ cell tumours and 33 healthy controls. Total serum amylase remained unchanged, but the salivary fraction had a lower mean value. P/S ratio and the pancreatic fraction were significantly elevated in both seminomatous and non- seminomatous tumours. The ratio was more frequently raised in non-seminomatous (100%) as compared to seminomatous (66.67%) tumors. Following treatment there was no appreciable fall in P/S ratio in non-seminomatous tumors whereas in seminomas there was a slight increase in the ratio. The pancreatic fraction showed a transient fall in seminomatous but not in non-seminomatous tumors following treatment. The pancreatic fraction of amylase and the P/S ratio may help in the diagnosis of testicular germ cell tumor but does not appear to be of use in assessment of prognosis or monitoring the course of the disease during treatment.

Serum lactate dehydrogenase, alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase and ratio of alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase to lactate dehydrogenase in testicular tumours.

Serum levels of Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH), alpha-Hydroxybutyrate Dehydrogenase (HBDH) and the relative ratio of alpha-Hydroxybutyrate Dehydrogenase to Lactate Dehydrogenase (HBDH/LDH) were determined in 51 cases of histologically proved testicular germ cell tumors and 40 healthy controls. Serum LDH and HBDH levels were found to be raised in both seminomatous and non-seminomatous germ cell tumors. The ratio of HBDH/LDH was found to be statistically significant in seminomas and insignificant in non-seminomatous germ cell tumors. Furthermore, the levels of LDH and HBDH showed a fall, following treatment indicating response to therapy. Serum LDH and HBDH could both be used as tumor markers in the diagnosis of testicular germ cell tumors as well as prognostic indicators in monitoring therapy, HBDH, being more specific in monitoring therapy as compared to serum LDH.