Enzymatic analysis of gastric microbiopsy specimens. An aid in the differential diagnosis between peptic ulcers and gastric carcinoma?

Microgastric biopsies were obtained from 20 patients with clinical, radiologic, and endoscopic features of gastric neoplasms. Biopsy specimens were taken from both macroscopically normal gastric mucosa (confirmed histology), and from the lesion. In 16 patients, various stages of adenocarcinoma were confirmed. Repeated biopsy examinations, ruled out malignancy in the four remaining patients, in which a final diagnosis of healing ulcers was established. Homogenates were prepared from the biopsy specimens, and subsequently assayed individually for acid- and alkaline phosphatase and acid proteases. Significant variances (P less than 0.05), were demonstrated for acid protease activities when tumor homogenate levels were compared; firstly with normal mucosa and secondly with ulcer homogenate levels. Biopsy hydrolase determinations may be valuable in providing important additional information not obtained from histologic examinations.