Neutrophil alkaline phosphatase activity in patients with neoplasma during surgical treatment.

In 22 patients with alimentary tract neoplasma, granulocyte alkaline phosphatase activity was determined using the Kaplow's histochemical method. The enzyme activity was determined in peripheral blood before surgical intervention, in blood from vessel draining of tumor before its excision and in peripheral blood 2--3 weeks after excision of tumor. In paralleled tests the enzyme activity was estimated in peripheral blood of 22 healthy individuals. The study indicates that alkaline phosphatase activity of granulocytes is evidently lower in comparison to the controls. Decrease of this enzyme activity in granulocytes from vessels draining tumor and increase of this activity after removal of the tumor suggest that tumor may affect the activity of this enzyme. It seems possible that for decrease of bactericidal capacity of granulocytes in patients with neoplasma the reduction of alkaline phosphatase activity of granulocytes may partly be responsible.