Serum 5'--nucleotide phosphodiesterase isozyme--V test for human liver cancer.

2,131 coded sera were obtained and tested according to the new 5'-NPDase-V isozyme test. On decoding, 99/126 (79%) samples of primary hepatoma, from the United States and other countries, were positive. In the U. S. group, 51/58 (88%) were positive, 23/58 (40%) had AFP higher than 20 ng/ml. In the non-U. S. group, 48/68 (71%) were positive for 5'-NPDase-V, as compared with AFP elevation in 45/68 (66%). 236/268 (88%) cases of cancer with known liver metastases were positive for 5'-NPDase-V. Of 1,040 cancer patients without liver scan or biopsy evidence of metastasis, 316 were positive. In a follow-up of this group of 316 cases, 109 underlying liver metastases were demonstrated by repeat scan or at autopsy within 3--6 months. All 166 sera from normal healthy persons were negative for 5'-NADase-V. Based on this large panel, 5'-NPDase-V test is a sensitive and an important diagnostic aid for cancer patients, both as an early predictor for liver metastases, and a useful marker for primary hepatoma when no other primary sites are found and when there is no evidence of severe chronic liver disease such as cirrhosis.