Neutrophil acid phosphatase activity in patients with gastric or rectum carcinoma during surgical treatment.

In 22 patients with alimentary tract carcinoma granulocyte acid phosphatase activity was determined using the histochemical method of Suzuki. Enzyme activity was determined in peripheral blood 3 times, viz. before surgical intervention, in blood from a vessel draining the tumour before its excision, and in peripheral blood 2-3 weeks after excision of the tumour. In parallel tests, enzyme activity was established in peripheral blood of 22 healthy individuals. The results showed that acid phosphatase activity of granulocytes is lower than in the controls, especially in granulocytes collected from the vessel draining the tumour. The lower acid phosphatase activity in granulocytes from patients with carcinoma was mainly due to the lower percentage of positive cells. After removal of the tumour acid phosphatase activity of the granulocytes increased in the majority of cases. It is assumed that an enhanced exocytosis of lysosomal enzymes in the course of tumour disease was responsible for the decrease of activity in the granulocytes.