Activity of beta-glucuronidase in peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with cancer of the larynx.

In 20 untreated male patients with cancer of the larynx, aged 35 to 55 years, the significant increase in the absolute count of beta-glucuronidase-positive lymphocytes in the peripheral blood was examined by means of the cytochemical method of Hayashi et al. (1964). The increase was due to an elevated absolute count of lymphocytes exhibiting the granular-diffuse and the diffuse enzymatic reaction; no significant changes were observed with regard to lymphocytes with the granular type of reaction. The authors discuss the significance of their observations for the evaluation of lymphocyte immune response against tumour specific antigens in patients with cancer of the larynx.