Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in erythrocytes of cancer patients

ABSTRACT

The specific activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, the key enzyme of hexose monophosphate shunt was determined in erythrocytes of 35 patients suffering from primary malignant neoplasia at different sites. Similarly, the enzyme activity was also evaluated in 7 patients having nonmalignant neoplasia as well as 13 control subjects. The enzyme activity in patients with benign diseases was similar to controls while in patients with malignant neoplasia the enzyme activity levels were significantly lower [P < 0.01] than control levels. Such decreased activity was not correlated with tumur locality. In 7 patients treated by radical tumur resection, the enzyme activity was increased insignificantly than preoperative levels. Such decreased activity in patients with malignant neoplasia seems to be an acquired erythroenzymophathy with an acquired qualitative disorder