Cytochemical study of neutrophils from peripheral blood of patients with lung cancer.

In 32 patients with untreated lung cancer, activity of alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, beta-glucuronidase and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase were determined cytochemically in peripheral blood of neutrophils. The results obtained were compared with those in 40 healthy subjects. Total counts of alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, beta-glucuronidase and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase positive neutrophils were significantly higher in patients with lung cancer, as compared with the control group. Mean value of alkaline phosphatase activity index (Score) was significantly higher in cancer patients in comparison to the control group whereas mean values of acid phosphatase, beta-glucuronidase and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase activities did not differ significantly.