Serum Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) Levels In Breast Cancer.

ABSTRACT

L-Lactate dehydrogenase is an oxidoreductase that catalyzes the reversible inter-conversion of pyruvate to L-lactate under anaerobic conditions. Levels of Lactate dehydrogenase are known to be elevated in the blood stream following severe tissue injuries and necrosis. Since cancer is a proliferating and invasive disease known to cause severe tissue damage and tumour cells respire anaerobically, the present study was planned to evaluate variations in the levels of serum LDH in breast cancer as compared to normal. LDH levels were estimated in 130 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of breast cancer and also in 110 healthy age matched randomly selected controls. Appropriate statistical tests were used to assess variations in LDH levels with respect to the presence of disease, age at onset and menopausal status of the proband, stage of the disease and mode of anti-cancer therapy followed Lactate dehydrogenase levels were found to be significantly elevated in breast cancer (302.45 + 7.67) as compared to control (173.77 + 3.4). Significant elevations in LDH levels were also observed with increasing age at onset, onset of menopause, advance stage of cancer and due to the anti-cancer treatment followed. These results suggest an immense potential for LDH as a prognostic marker for breast cancer.