Correlation between serum and tissue deoxyribonuclease levels in breast cancer patients.

Acid and alkaline DNAse levels were determined in the serum of 224 breast cancer patients and in the extracts of 121 breast tissue and 48 lymph node biopsies of the above patients. The DNase levels were compared to the histological diagnoses of the tumors. Serum and tissue DNase levels were found to be significantly increased in malignancies as compared to benign conditions. A close correlation was found between serum and tissue DNase levels. Measurement of DNase levels within tumors could become clinically important i.e. screening of patients for metastatic disease, or in vitro testing of tumor cells sensitivity to therapeutic regimes.