Beta-glucuronidase enzyme in bladder cancer associated with bilharziasis [Histochemical and biochemical study]

ABSTRACT

To understand the status of beta-glucuronidase enzyme in bilharzial bladder cancer, the enzyme was evaluated histochemically in tissue specimens taken from 70 bilharzial patients suffering from bladder cancer and treated by total cystectomy. Specimens were taken from three different sites; apparently non-tumor area, edge of the tumor and center of the tumor deep to the necrotic tissue. Twenty of these patients were selected for biochemical evaluation of the enzyme in the tissue and serum. In addition, ten patients had benign bilharzial lesions were included for histochemical evaluation of the enzyme in the benign ulcer and biochemical estimation of the enzyme in the serum and these benign lesions. Seven non-bilharzial healthy persons were selected for serum estimation of the enzyme as control group