The significance of 5'-nucleotide phosphodiesterase isozymes in the diagnosis of liver carcinoma.

The results of determination of the serum 5'-NPDase isozymes in 95 cases of primary liver carcinoma and other kinds of disease are presented. The 5'-NPDase-V was positive in 83.2% of primary liver cancer cases. This test might be a useful supplement to AFP determination, especially in AFP-negative liver cancer patients. In most patients who had undergone successful liver resection for primary carcinoma, the test became negative. A positive 5'NPDase-V test in patients with cancer elsewhere in the body may suggest liver metastasis. In addition, this test may be of some help in the differentiation of primary liver cancer from other kinds of liver disease. The problem of "false-positive" results of this test is discussed.