[Clinical significance of the determination of serum phosphohexose isomerase in malignant neoplasms].

The results of a preliminary study on the serous level of PHI in patients undergoing treatment at the Catania Oncology Institute are reported. Of 53 subjects with ongoing cancer, higher than normal values were encountered in 70% of cases. This percentage rose to 82.3% in cancer patients with metastasis affecting the skeleton. Of 12 subjects who underwent mastectomy with no clinical signs of recurrence only three showed abnormal values while in no case of fibrocystic mastopathy were levels higher than normal observed. A constant correlation was identified between effectiveness of surgical, radiotherapeutical or medical treatment and reduction in serous level of PHI. The usefulness of this investigation in oncology is thus confirmed.