Enzyme activity, acidic nuclear proteins, and prognosis in human breast cancer.

The activities of the enzymes lactate dehydrogenase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, and phosphohexose isomerase in primary human breast cancer biopsies are shown to be related to the time between mastectomy and recurrence of the cancer. These enzymes have higher activity in malignant breast tissues generally than in non-malignant breast tissues. In tumours from patients with long free periods these differences are not apparent.Evidence is presented which suggests that two different types of breast cancer can be distinguished according to the relative amounts of phosphohexose isomerase and acidic nuclear proteins. It is suggested that this difference may be related to hormone responsiveness.