Arginase as a marker of cancerogenesis. I. Monitoring patients after resection of colorectal cancer
Porembska, Z.; Mielczarek, M.; Nyckowski, Pł.; Barańczyk-Kuźma, A.
Polski Merkuriusz Lekarski Organ Polskiego Towarzystwa Lekarskiego 13(76): 284-285
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 1426-9686 PMID: 12557431 Document Number: 550313
Arginase activity in blood serum of 40 patients with primary colorectal cancer determined one day before tumour resection, was almost 5-times higher than that in serum of healthy blood donors. Preoperative increase of arginase activity was observed in 28 out of 40 patients (70%). Six days after tumour resection, arginase activity decreased to the normal value in most studied patients. In 32 patients (86%), the activity remained low during three years of surveillance, and no symptoms of carcinogenesis were observed. However, the postoperative raise of arginase activity was demonstrated in 5 patients--in 3 of them colorectal cancer recurred and 2 developed liver metastases. The increase of arginase activity in blood serum, after resection of primary colorectal cancer, may indicate tumour recurrence or liver metastases. Therefore, monitoring of postoperative arginase activity in patient's serum may be of diagnostic value.